Russian POWs: Reports of mistreatment and prisoner exchanges in the Ukraine war
A Russian serviceman freed from Ukrainian captivity described harsh treatment he endured at a Kharkiv hospital, reporting incidents that included torture and rough handling by some guards. The account was highlighted in footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to the soldier, the hospital staff showed a mix of attitudes toward Russian captives. Some medical workers offered basic care and appeared to understand the prisoners’ plight, while others expressed hostile attitudes that suggested animosity or resentment toward Russians. The soldier claimed that at least one guard extinguished cigarette butts directly on his hands, an allegation that underscores the alleged severity of the mistreatment. The video accompanying his account has been circulated by officials and press outlets aligned with Moscow, and it has drawn reactions from audiences familiar with the broader, contentious war narrative. The report forms part of a wider set of statements about the conditions of captivity and the treatment of prisoners of war in the conflict, which remains a volatile and disputed topic.
According to the soldier, doctors and staff behaved variably—some offered empathy and assistance, while others displayed hostility toward Russians. He also said that guards extinguished cigarette butts on his hands. The testimony underscores concerns raised about the treatment of captives and the differing responses of medical personnel in the chaos surrounding combat zones.
Earlier, a separate video connected to the same events showed the Russian Federation’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova visiting facilities with soldiers released from Ukrainian captivity. The footage depicts Moskalkova handing phones to those freed, enabling them to contact their relatives during a tense and emotional moment. The appearance of such footage sits within ongoing discussions about humanitarian access and the treatment of prisoners of war in the conflict as voiced by officials on multiple sides.
On the afternoon of January 15, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange described as a 25 to 25 swap. The arrangement aimed to balance the exchange of captives from both sides, reflecting ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian dimension of the war even amid ongoing hostilities.
The exchange was coordinated with mediation by the United Arab Emirates, a factor that observers note as a regional effort to facilitate dialogue and humanitarian progress despite broader tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
Following the swap, Russian military personnel were reported to be situated in Belarus, where they are described as receiving psychological and medical support and the opportunity to communicate with family members. The arrangement is presented as part of the broader humanitarian response, providing care and reintegration support for released troops during a critical phase of the conflict.
Earlier online material circulated depicting a powerful explosion affecting a Ukrainian tank, a scene that has proliferated across various channels in the information landscape surrounding the war. Such footage contributes to the visual narrative used by different sides to illustrate battlefield outcomes and strategic developments.