Uzbek fighters dominate foreign POW numbers held by Ukraine

Uzbek nationals have emerged as the largest group of foreign prisoners of war held by Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.

According to the Ukrainian initiative “I Want to Live,” which tracks information on prisoners and deserters, at least 902 Uzbek citizens enlisted in the Russian Armed Forces since the beginning of 2025. This brings the total number of identified Uzbek recruits to approximately 1,100, with over 100 confirmed fatalities.

The majority of these recruits are migrant workers from Uzbekistan residing in Russia, enticed by promises of high salaries, employment opportunities in construction or logistical roles, and the prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship.

Currently, prisoners from 33 different countries are held in Ukrainian captivity, with Uzbek nationals comprising the largest foreign group.

Prisoner exchanges have played a significant role in this conflict’s human dimension. Both Russia and Ukraine have engaged in multiple swaps involving soldiers captured on both sides, aiming to repatriate their military personnel and ease humanitarian suffering.

Recently, both countries have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange under the Istanbul Agreement, which was finalised during peace talks in July 2025. As part of this agreement, both countries committed to exchanging 1,200 prisoners of war and repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers. This marks the third round of exchanges under the Istanbul framework, following previous swaps in May and June.

The most recent exchange, completed on July 23, 2025, was the ninth stage of this process, with over 1,000 individuals returned home, including critically ill and severely wounded defenders from various fronts across Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova