Over 4,300 Ukrainians are being held in Russian captivity

The Ukrainian government commission has officially identified that 4,337 people are held captive in Russia — 3,574 soldiers and 763 civilians. 

This information was provided by the Ministry of Reintegration, Rubryka reports.

These details have been recorded in the Unified Register of persons who have been deprived of personal freedom due to armed aggression against Ukraine.

As a result of the commission's work, the Ministry of Reintegration is making one-time and annual state financial aid payments.

Since the beginning of 2023, a total of ₴422 million have already been disbursed to those released from captivity, as well as to the families of military captives, civilian hostages, and political prisoners.

The latest prisoner exchange with Russia took place on August 7, during which Ukraine repatriated 22 defenders. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, during the 48th successful exchange, a total of 2,598 Ukrainians returned home from captivity.

Dmytro Lubinets, the human rights commissioner, expressed his feelings that Russian captives seem of little interest to the Russian side. He mentioned, "Russians sometimes find it more interesting to use their own prisoners of war and the relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war but not to bring ours home. They spin narratives to the relatives of prisoners that Ukraine is at fault, that Ukraine doesn't want to cooperate, that we propose something, but they are not ready."

All Russian military captives who are not injured or undergoing treatment are engaged in labor in camps for prisoners of war. Their work efficiency is higher than that of ordinary prisoners.

The State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine has established 51 zones and camps with proper living conditions and medical support for the detention of Russian military captives.

The Ministry of Justice informed that the funding for the detention of captives in camps and zones in 2022 is provided through the reserves of the State Budget.

Maintaining one military captive costs approximately ₴3,000 per month. The places for detaining Russian military captives in Ukraine are currently overcrowded.

As previously reported by Rubryka, thanks to the "I Want to Live" project, 216 Russian military personnel surrendered in captivity in a year, and over a thousand individuals are waiting for transfer across the front line. The "I Want to Live" project website is blocked on the territory of Russia.

Following the successful special operation "Sparrow," during which a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was transferred under Ukrainian control, the number of occupiers wanting to surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine increased by 70%.