Ukraine Detains POWs from 48 Countries. Russia Wants None of Them Back - Le Monde Investigation

An investigation by Le Monde, published June 13, 2026, confirms what Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters has documented for months: Russia has largely excluded foreign nationals who fought in its armed forces from prisoner exchange negotiations - leaving hundreds of captured fighters from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America in indefinite legal limbo.

The numbers

Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, told Le Monde that Ukraine has identified prisoners of war belonging to 48 different nationalities. Ukraine holds personal data on more than 28,000 foreign nationals who have signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion - including nearly 13,000 citizens of Central Asian states.

Ukrainian detention facilities currently hold citizens of Kenya, Mali, Egypt, Turkey, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Republic of Congo, among others. Foreign prisoners are housed together and allowed to communicate with compatriots in their native languages.

See also: profiles of foreigners recruited by Russia and captured in Ukraine

"There have been no requests from them"

Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of the secretariat of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters, has previously stated that Russia has not sought the return of most foreign captives: 

"There have been no requests from them, except concerning the North Koreans."

Some foreign fighters have spent years in Ukrainian detention - even in cases where they had already obtained Russian citizenship through their contracts. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to Le Monde's request for comment.
Complex cases

Two North Korean soldiers captured in 2025 reportedly requested transfer to South Korea rather than return to North Korea - a situation Ukrainian officials say is complicated by international humanitarian law and the principle of non-refoulement. Two Chinese nationals captured in 2025 also remain in Ukrainian custody, with Russia showing no interest in including them in exchanges either.

Nowhere to go

Legal experts cited by Le Monde note that many foreign prisoners face a double bind: their home countries criminalize mercenary activity, meaning a return home could expose them to prosecution - while limited engagement from national authorities and lack of documentation further delay any release.

Ukraine treats foreign fighters captured while serving in the Russian military as prisoners of war under international humanitarian law, rather than prosecuting them as mercenaries - a markedly different approach from how some countries have treated foreign volunteers who fought on Ukraine's side, who have at times faced terrorism or mercenary-related charges in their home countries.

The bigger picture

The pattern is now well established across multiple independent investigations: Russia recruits with promises of high pay and citizenship, deploys with minimal training, and once a recruit is captured, simply leaves them behind. For the men in Ukrainian detention facilities, citizenship promised by Russia has become a status with no government on either side actively working to resolve it.

If you are a foreign national currently serving in the Russian Armed Forces - surrender is possible and safe, and Ukraine treats POWs in full accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Prisoners of war detained in Ukraine receive proper nutrition and healthcare, they reside in decent conditions and are regularly monitored by international human rights organizations. Learn more about the safe surrender option. 

Source: Le Monde