375 Ukrainians did not survive Russian captivity, - Dmytro Lubinets

Ukraine has confirmed the deaths of at least 375 Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages in Russian places of detention. All of these people were verified as having been in captivity or unlawfully detained by Russia, and their bodies were returned home after death.

This was reported on 12 August 2026 by the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, during a briefing, writes Liga.net.

According to him, Ukraine maintains a separate list of those who died in Russian captivity, which currently contains 375 names.

This concerns both Ukrainian servicemen who were taken captive and civilian hostages whom Russia unlawfully held in its places of detention.

Of the 375 deceased, the status of 146 people as prisoners was officially confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The detention in Russian captivity of another 229 Ukrainians was confirmed using other sources.

Russia returned to Ukraine the bodies of all 375 people who were verified as prisoners of war or civilian hostages. Thus, these are confirmed cases of death of Ukrainians who were held in Russian captivity.

Ukrainians in Russian captivity systematically face inhumane conditions of detention. This includes overcrowded cells, inadequate food, difficulties accessing medical care and hygiene supplies, as well as physical and psychological abuse. During the same briefing Dmytro Lubinets reported that, according to data recorded by Ukraine, 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war experienced systematic torture in Russian places of detention.

An especially tragic case concerns prisoners of war whom Ukraine tried to return as seriously ill. According to the ombudsman, 5 prisoners of war from the Istanbul list of seriously ill prisoners, who were being prepared for exchange, were found among the repatriated bodies in August 2025. Instead of living people, Ukraine received bodies of the deceased.

That is why Dmytro Lubinets emphasizes the need to prioritize returning the severely wounded and seriously ill Ukrainians from Russian captivity, for whom each day in captivity can have critical consequences. In the official statement the ombudsman called this priority No.1.

The ombudsman also reported that Ukraine documents numerous forms of torture and inadequate detention conditions of Ukrainians in Russia. Among the recorded methods – beatings, the use of electric current, psychological and sexual violence, threats, being set on by dogs and mock executions.

The confirmed 375 deaths show that even officially established detention of a Ukrainian in captivity does not guarantee the preservation of their life. The Ukrainian side continues to insist on the return of all prisoners of war and civilian hostages, especially those who have severe injuries or serious illnesses.

Earlier we wrote:

• Returned after 22 months of captivity without family or money: soldier reported disappearance of over 2 million UAH
• Ukraine and Russia exchanged large lists of missing servicemen, agreed to continue visits to prisoners
• Ukraine carried out the 76th prisoner exchange: 160 Ukrainian defenders finally home
• “Don’t be silent, they are still not home”: a rally in Mykolaiv was held in support of prisoners
• Korabelnyi District welcomed Borys Kurtenko after 4 years of Russian captivity