Russia seizes Ukrainian POWs, then it demands favors from their relatives

Key Points:

• Russian forces have detained thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians since capturing territories, often accusing detainees of spying and pressuring their families for cooperation through social media threats and extortion attempts.
• Ukrainian authorities report that Russian agencies, including the GRU and FSB, orchestrate direct contact with prisoners' families to extract information or compel support for Russian actions, exploiting the families' vulnerable positions.
• Families are advised by Ukrainian officials not to trust or engage with Russian contacts, as many prisoners are coerced into delivering false messages to manipulate relatives into protesting against Ukraine.
• A 2024 UN report documents widespread and systematic torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russian authorities, including severe beatings, electric shocks, and sexual violence, while treatment of Russian POWs in Ukraine appears more compliant with international standards.
• Despite some prisoner exchanges resulting in releases, many civilians remain detained by Russia, with families like Polina's living in ongoing fear and uncertainty about their loved ones' health and fate.