With hepatitis, no education and foreigners. More than 10,000 Russian soldiers have surrendered since 2022: who are they

More than 10,000 Russian soldiers have been captured since the start of the full-scale war in 2022. In recent years, the enemy has been captured more often than the Ukrainian military, said in the first comprehensive statistics of the I Want to Live project.

During the partial year of 2025, more occupants were taken prisoner than in 2022 and 2023 combined. On average, 60-90 Russians surrender every week, and in August 2024, their number reached 350 people per week.

Since June 2023, enemy soldiers have been captured more often than Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity. Most of the occupants were captured in Pokrovsk and Bakhmut districts of Donetsk region, in Kursk region of Russia, and in Pologiv district of Zaporizhzhia region.

In 2025, the number of captured foreign mercenaries increased. Every week, about two to three Russian army soldiers who surrender turn out to be third-country nationals. However, the Kremlin shows no interest in returning them from captivity.

"In 2025, more foreigners were taken prisoner than in all previous years combined. Currently, almost 7% of all prisoners of war in Ukraine are foreign mercenaries from 40 countries," the project states.

Among Russian prisoners of war, 83% are privates, 13% are non-commissioned officers, 1.4% are warrant officers and midshipmen, and only 3% are junior and senior officers. The highest rank among prisoners of war is colonel.

The youngest occupant at the time of capture was 18 years old, the oldest was 65 years old. Approximately 76% are contract soldiers, including those recruited in prisons and mercenaries of so-called private military companies. Mobilized prisoners account for about 19% of all prisoners, and conscripts for 5%.

"Involuntary participation in the war was reported by 24% of the prisoners – they were either deceived or forced to go to war," the report says.

40% of all Russian prisoners of war have criminal records. Most of them, 35.1%, were convicted of theft. Another 18.5% were convicted for drugs, 16.3% for robbery and assault, 8.3% for grievous bodily harm, and 7.2% for murder.

Only 7% of POWs from the Russian Federation have higher education. 44% graduated from college or vocational school, and 30% of prisoners did not even finish school.

"Several dozen prisoners of war did not attend school at all," the I Want to Live project reported.

Before going to fight against Ukraine, 38% of the prisoners were unemployed, 18% worked in construction, 11% were drivers, 7% were mechanics, welders and electricians, and 6% each worked in security or in the civil service.

36% of the captives of the Russian invaders are married, 16% are divorced, 13% are in a civil marriage, and 34% have never been married. 46% of the prisoners have children. 8% have three or more children, but this did not become a reason for dismissal from the army.

Hundreds of people were taken prisoner with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, diabetes, and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

During the exchanges, more than 6,000 prisoners of war have been returned to Russia, including 52% in 2025. The I Want to Live project is aware of the deaths or disappearances of at least 237 former prisoners of war who were sent back to the front. Four occupants are now in captivity for the second time.

"The ethnic composition of the exchanged Russians differs markedly from that of the prisoners. While 66% of prisoners of war are ethnic Russians, their share among the exchanged increases to 83%," the project noted.

Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region, Krasnodar and Perm territories, and Rostov region were returned more often than others. Less often, natives of Chuvashia, Udmurtia, Kalmykia, and Sakhalin Oblast.

First and foremost, the Russian Defense Ministry seeks to return those who do not have serious injuries and have not been in captivity for long: 28% of the exchanged persons were held in captivity for less than three months. Another 40% were held for four to nine months. Among those held captive for more than a year, only 22% were invited by the Russian side for the exchange.

"Currently, thousands of prisoners of war of the Russian army remain in Ukraine, including those captured in the first days of the invasion, Kursk conscripts, the wounded and sick. For the fourth year in a row, the Russian side has refused to return them home as part of the "all-for-all" exchange," the report says.

• According to the "I Want to Live" project, the following people died in Ukraine 314 Belarusians и 270 Kazakhswho fought on the side of the Russian Federation.
• In November, Kenya announced that more than 200 of its citizens are fighting on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine.
• In early December, in South Africa detained five people on suspicion of recruiting people for Russia's war against Ukraine. Country negotiate about the return of 17 men recruited for the war.
• Botswana in December also announced the recruitment of its citizens into the Russian army. Ukraine reacted and called for vigilance.