World · Europe · 14 hrs ago
Russia groups captured Ukrainian soldiers in a battalion fighting Ukraine
Russia has formed combat units from Ukrainian prisoners of war and former Ukrainian servicemen.
One of them, the Maksym Kryvonis battalion, has reportedly taken part in fighting against Ukrainian forces.
Its members include former Ukrainian soldiers captured between 2023 and 2024, according to an investigation by Ukraine’s public broadcaster.
Some prisoners say they joined to escape captivity or reach Ukrainian-held territory.
But reports of torture and pressure in Russian captivity raise questions about whether recruitment was truly voluntary.
Others point to criminal cases against some members as evidence that some may have switched sides by choice.
The units were merged into a larger brigade in August 2026, but their true size is unknown.
Russia has formed units of captured Ukrainian soldiers and former Ukrainian service members to fight against Ukrainian forces.
The Maksym Kryvonis battalion is one of those units and has apparently taken part in combat.
Its size is unknown, with Russian media reporting about 200 fighters while available footage shows several dozen.
Former Ukrainian officer Pavlo Oliynyk says he joined the battalion to escape Russian captivity and reach Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Experts and human rights advocates differ over whether recruitment into the units is voluntary, given reports of abuse in Russian captivity.
- Who
- The Maksym Kryvonis battalion includes captured Ukrainian soldiers and former Ukrainian service members. Its members are fighting for Russia against Ukrainian forces.
- What
- Russia has gathered Ukrainian prisoners of war and former service members into combat units, including the battalion.
- When
- Reports of Russian units made up of Ukrainian prisoners and former service members began in late 2022. Several units were merged in August 2026.
- Where
- The war is in Ukraine; Oliynyk says he sought to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory.
- Why
- Pavel Luzin describes the units as an imitation of Russian volunteer units fighting for Ukraine and a way to distract from their existence. Oliynyk says he joined to escape captivity.
Concerns about coercion
Arguments suggesting voluntary recruitment
Recruitment conditions
Concerns about coercion
Bill Wiley says the physical and psychological state of returned combatants raises serious doubts that recruitment was voluntary. Maksym Butkevych says pressure in captivity makes the line between voluntary and involuntary difficult to draw.
Arguments suggesting voluntary recruitment
Mykhailo Savva says criminal proceedings against several battalion members suggest they switched sides voluntarily.
Prisoner treatment
Concerns about coercion
The UN human rights office reported that 95% of released Ukrainian POWs it interviewed said they had experienced torture or ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
Arguments suggesting voluntary recruitment
Savva points to criminal procedures as evidence suggesting some members chose to switch sides.
It bothers them that Russians would fight on Ukraine's side, but Ukrainians won't fight on Russia's side
imitation
more or less persistently
Reports began emerging of Russian combat units consisting of Ukrainian prisoners of war and former Ukrainian service members.
Pavlo Oliynyk was captured in the Donbas region.
The UN human rights office reported that 95% of released Ukrainian POWs it interviewed said they had experienced torture or ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
Several detachments were merged into the Ukrainian Volunteer Special Forces Brigade.
DW published its report on the units.
- Battalion
- Maksym Kryvonis
- Estimated size
- Russian media reports about 200 fighters; footage suggests several dozen
- Identified members
- Suspilne identified over 30 members, all former Ukrainian servicemen captured between 2023 and 2024
- Merged units
- Ukrainian Volunteer Special Forces Brigade
- Merger date
- August 2026
- POW interviews
- 95% reported torture or ill-treatment in a 2025 UN human rights office report
Sources
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