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According to the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR), citing the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, these include 169 military personnel and 15 civilians.
The MIHR notes that the actual number of deaths among Ukrainian prisoners is likely much higher. Testimonies from 122 Ukrainian servicemen who survived Russian captivity reveal systemic torture, isolation from the outside world, and denial of adequate medical care.
Many Ukrainian defenders have remained in Russian captivity for over 30 months since the early months of the full-scale invasion. Russia continues to block access for monitoring missions, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and fails to inform Ukraine about deteriorating health conditions or deaths of prisoners—flagrant violations of the Geneva Conventions.
The MIHR has documented numerous cases of deaths caused by inhumane conditions and torture. Among the 169 military personnel whose bodies were returned, 55 died during explosions at the Olenivka penal colony.
These findings highlight the urgent need for international accountability and oversight to protect the rights and lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Read also: Russia launched about 2,300 drones in Ukraine in November – British intel
