Camilla Jessen
Russia is redeploying former prisoners of war to the front lines shortly after exchanges with Ukraine.
Russia is redeploying former prisoners of war (POWs) back to the frontline shortly after exchanges with Ukraine, often without medical treatment, rehabilitation, or legal demobilization.
Some of these soldiers, still wounded, have been captured again within weeks of their release.
These findings were published on August 4 by the Ukrainian state-run initiative Project “I Want to Live” on Telegram.
From Captivity to Combat — Without a Break
The report highlights two cases that illustrate the practice: Saktaagai Shagaa from Tuva and Dmitry Ivanov from the Komi Republic.
Both were returned to Russia through prisoner swaps in June 2025, only to be sent back into battle near Vovchansk by July.
Shagaa, conscripted in December 2024 into the 83rd Motor Rifle Regiment, spoke limited Russian and received minimal training.
Interrogated By FSB
He was wounded and captured during an assault in January 2025. After being exchanged on June 20, he expected to go home.
Instead, he was interrogated by FSB officers for two weeks at a base near Moscow, then redeployed to the same frontline.
On July 19, he was captured again.
Second Capture for Injured Soldier Within a Month
Ivanov, 21, had signed a contract with the 82nd Motor Rifle Regiment in September 2024.
According to the report, he was sent to the front without military training and was first captured in October after sustaining injuries.
After his release on June 9, 2025, he too was forced back into combat. Less than six weeks later, on July 19, Ivanov was again taken prisoner near Vovchansk.
No Right to Refuse
Project “I Want to Live” underlines that Russian soldiers returned from captivity lack any legal mechanism to refuse further military service, even after enduring captivity.
This contrasts with Ukrainian procedures, where ex-POWs are allowed to submit resignation requests and are not immediately sent back to the battlefield.
FSB’s Role Post-Exchange
The report also claims that instead of receiving medical treatment or psychological support, returning Russian POWs are subjected to FSB interrogations.
After these questioning sessions, soldiers are often redeployed—regardless of their health condition or combat readiness.
Ukraine’s Reintegration Process
Ukraine, on the other hand, follows a structured reintegration process for returning POWs.
Those who have been held by Russia undergo medical screenings, receive psychological support, and are compensated by the state.
A recent large-scale prisoner exchange included dozens of Ukrainian service members and civilians detained since 2022.
While Ukrainian soldiers are allowed to reintegrate at their own pace, Russia’s approach appears to prioritize immediate redeployment, often at the cost of the soldiers’ physical and mental well-being.
