There are 20 Russian servicemen currently held captive in Ukraine who had previously been captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and, upon their return to Russia, voluntarily surrendered to Ukrainian forces for a second time. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The agency believes that these men\u2019s decision was influenced by their previous experience of captivity.<\/p>\n
Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n The Coordination Headquarters stated that the fact that they have voluntarily surrendered a second time demonstrates that the Russian military are aware of the conditions of detention in Ukraine. \u00abThose who have already been held as prisoners of war in Ukraine have seen for themselves that Ukraine provides adequate conditions of detention and that Russian prisoners of war are treated humanely,\u00bb the agency emphasised.<\/p>\n The treatment of prisoners of war is governed by The Third Geneva Convention<\/a>. It obliges the parties to treat prisoners of war humanely, to protect them from violence, intimidation, insults and public curiosity, and to provide them with food, medical care and adequate conditions of detention. The status of a prisoner of war does not exempt a person from liability for any war crimes they may have committed.<\/p>\n The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, in its report covering the period from December 2025to May 2026, noted that around half of the Russian prisoners of war interviewed reported torture or other ill-treatment, predominantly during their capture and transport to official places of detention. The UN emphasised that all prisoners of war must be treated humanely in accordance with international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n Being taken prisoner a second time means that, upon their return to Russia, these soldiers found themselves once again serving in the Russian armed forces or in a combat zone. The circumstances of their return to the army and the reasons for their second surrender may vary from case to case. The Joint Staff did not disclose the names of the prisoners, their units, the circumstances of their second surrender, or the time of their return to Russia following their first capture.<\/p>\n\n
Assessment by the Coordination Headquarters and rules for the treatment of prisoners of war<\/h2>\n
Returning to Russia and working on government projects<\/h2>\n