Citizens of 51 Countries in Ukrainian Captivity: Kyiv Reports Foreign Nationals Fought for Russia

Ukraine's ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, has stated that citizens from 51 countries have come under the control of Ukraine's armed forces, who, according to him, participated in the war on behalf of Russia.

“It is important to openly and honestly inform the world that participating in the war on behalf of Russia has real legal consequences,” Lubinets announced.

He noted that information about the involvement of citizens from various countries in the Russian army was presented during a meeting with leaders of Ukraine’s diplomatic structures.

According to the BBC's Russian service, as of early July 2026, at least 3,589 foreign nationals have died during Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine, fighting on the Russian side.