Russia seizes Ukrainian POWs, then it demands favors from their relatives
Russia is reportedly seizing Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, then exploiting their relatives' vulnerability by contacting them on social media to demand information or favors in exchange for updates on their loved ones. This tactic is used to gather intelligence and pressure families, as formal channels for information are often withheld.
Why it matters
This practice highlights severe human rights abuses and psychological warfare tactics employed by Russia, causing immense distress to families and violating international norms regarding the treatment of POWs and civilians in conflict zones.
KYIV, Ukraine - Polina is a middle-aged woman from eastern Ukraine who was devastated when Russian troops captured her hometown in 2022 and seized her ailing father, who's blind in one eye and walks with a cane.
Then came another gut-wrenching blow. Russian authorities contacted her on social media and demanded she assist them to ensure that her father — who's now 71 — was well treated.
"They pressured me for four months. They wanted me to gather some information about one of their attacks," said Polina.
Another time, the Russians sent her a video of her father.
"They said, 'Look, he's OK. He's smiling. And you haven't done anything for us yet.' They kind of pressured me, like, 'It's time to do something,'" said Polina, who fled her hometown and now lives in a northern part of the country that's still under Ukrainian control.
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