Ukraine Returns 186 Captives: Only One Civilian Among 20,000 Held by Russia

On June 5, Ukraine repatriated 186 citizens from Russian captivity: 185 military personnel and only one civilian. This figure is concerning, as Russia illegally detains approximately 20,000 Ukrainian civilians in its territory and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Civilian prisoners include journalists, volunteers, priests, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, local deputies, and pensioners. Many were abducted in 2022 and held incommunicado, often without charges or on fabricated cases. Most have endured torture. The whereabouts of only 2,114 individuals have been established, representing 10% of the abducted civilians.

The human rights initiative Civic Evidence published two reports: one on Azov Regiment prisoners of war and another on the fabrication of cases against Ukrainian civilians. Both reports conclude that Russia uses people as a tool of war, turning captured Azov fighters into propaganda targets and victims of brutal torture, and civilians into victims of fabricated cases.

The international coalition People First, uniting dozens of Ukrainian and international human rights organizations, calls for the release of prisoners and civilian detainees to become a central humanitarian issue on the international agenda and a prerequisite for any peace negotiations. The coalition works with state leaders, governments, and international institutions, engaging Global South countries to pressure Russia.