Over 10,000 Russian soldiers captured since start of full-scale invasion

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 10,000 Russian troops have been taken prisoner: 30% of them did not finish school, 40% have criminal records, and 38% were unemployed before the war.

Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War; Khochu Zhyt ("I Want to Live") project

Quote: "The Khochu Zhyt project is publishing comprehensive statistics for the first time on more than 10,000 Russian servicemen who have been captured during the full-scale invasion.

The number of Russians surrendering into captivity is growing every year. This far into 2025, more Russian soldiers have been captured than in 2022 and 2023 combined."

Details: On average, between 60 and 90 Russian servicemen surrender each week, while in August 2024, this figure reached 350 per week.

The Coordination Headquarters also said that since June 2023, Russian soldiers have been captured more often than Ukrainian soldiers have been taken prisoner by Russia.

The largest numbers of prisoners were taken in the Pokrovsk and Bakhmut districts of Donetsk Oblast, in Russia's Kursk Oblast and in the Polohy district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

In 2025, the number of foreign mercenaries among prisoners increased sharply.

Each week, two to three captured fighters turn out to be recruited citizens of third countries.

Overall, almost 7% of all Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine are foreigners from 40 countries.

The Coordination Headquarters report that typically Russian prisoners of war are:

• 83% enlisted personnel
• 13% sergeants
• almost 3% officers
• age: from 18 to 65
• about 76% contract soldiers, including those recruited in prisons and private military companies
• 19% mobilised personnel
• almost 5% conscripts.

Twenty-four per cent of Russian prisoners reported coercion or deception; 40% have criminal convictions, most commonly for theft, drug offences, robbery, grievous bodily harm and murder.

Only 7% have higher education, while 30% did not finish school.

Before the war, 38% were unemployed. Almost half have children, including 8% who have three or more.

It is also reported that hundreds of POWs have severe chronic illnesses, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and diabetes, and mental disorders.

Through prisoner exchanges, just over 6,000 Russian prisoners of war have been returned to Russia, more than half of them in 2025.

At least 237 former Russian prisoners are known to have been killed or gone missing after being sent back to the front following exchanges.

Four Russian soldiers are currently in captivity for the second time.

The Coordination Headquarters also stressed that Russia primarily seeks the return of ethnic Russians without severe injuries and with short periods of captivity.

Russia does not request to exchange foreign mercenaries.

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