Ukraine captured 858 more Russian servicemen than Russia captured Ukrainian troops during the first eight months of 2026, widening the gap between the two countries’ pools of prisoners available for exchanges.
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the difference amounted to an average of 107 prisoners per month.
The trend has been developing for several years. The Coordination Headquarters said Ukraine has been capturing more Russian servicemen than Russia has been taking Ukrainian troops prisoner since mid-2023, with the gap continuing to grow through 2024 and 2025.
The figures also contradict earlier Russian claims about a significant numerical advantage in prisoners of war. Russian propaganda claimed in 2023 that more than 20,000 Ukrainian servicemen were being held in Russia, while Vladimir Putin said in January 2024 that Russia held ten Ukrainian prisoners for every Russian held by Ukraine.
The Coordination Headquarters attributed the growing number of Russian prisoners partly to Ukrainian troops seeking to capture Russian servicemen alive rather than killing them in combat.
Ukraine has also developed a broader system aimed at encouraging surrender. Since September 2022, the I Want to Live project has provided Russian servicemen with information on how to surrender safely and what happens after they enter Ukrainian captivity.
According to the Coordination Headquarters, the project’s website has received more than 50 million visits since its launch, primarily from Russia. Interviews with captured Russian servicemen and information about conditions in Ukrainian captivity are also distributed to Russian audiences.
Ukrainian servicemen can receive financial incentives for taking Russian troops prisoner alive, providing another practical reason to seek captures on the battlefield.
For Ukraine, the growing number of Russian prisoners has a direct significance beyond the battlefield. Prisoners held by Ukraine can be used in exchanges to secure the return of Ukrainian servicemen and civilians held by Russia.
“Every Russian held in Ukrainian captivity creates an opportunity to bring home another Ukrainian defender or civilian hostage,” the Coordination Headquarters said.
