- Category
- War in Ukraine
Ukraine Captures Fighters From 51 Countries Serving in Russia’s Army, Ombudsman Says
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
Citizens of 51 countries have been taken captive in Ukraine while fighting in the ranks of Russia's occupying army, Ukraine's Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Liubinets, stated on August 4.
Liubinets shared the figure in a post on his official Telegram channel after addressing Ukraine's annual meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions, convened this year under the slogan "Restoration of Peace and Ukraine's Leadership."
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
"Foreigners from 51 countries have been taken captive in Ukraine while fighting as part of the army of the Russian occupiers," Liubinets declared. He argued that fighting on Russia's side carries real legal consequences, and that Ukraine must convey this openly to the world.
Liubinets framed diplomacy as inseparable from its human dimension, pointing to children, civilians, and prisoners of war awaiting return.
He noted that 20,610 cases of the deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children have been confirmed. Under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, 2,425 children have been returned, including 465 with assistance from the Ombudsman's Office, he added.
The commissioner called on Ukrainian ambassadors to help arrange visits by international delegations to Ukraine's child rights protection centers, arguing that witnessing the consequences of Russian crimes firsthand carries more weight than any written report.
He also warned that thousands of Ukrainians remain held in Russian captivity, and that every Russian crime must be documented and answered for.
The scale of foreign recruitment into Russia's ranks has drawn sustained attention throughout the war. Ukrainian authorities have identified captured prisoners of war from 48 separate nationalities and hold data on more than 28,000 foreign nationals who signed contracts with Russian forces since 2022.
Moscow has largely declined to include such fighters—many lured by promises of high pay and fast-tracked citizenship—in prisoner exchanges, leaving hundreds in prolonged detention.
Discuss this article:
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
