Russia seizes Ukrainian POWs, then it demands favors from their relatives

Written and edited by the WorldPing NewsdeskPublished Updated Original reporting: NPR
Russia seizes Ukrainian POWs, then it demands favors from their relativesWorldPing
Image via NPR.

What happened

Russia is believed to be holding thousands of Ukrainian POWs.

Russia is also tormenting the families of these prisoners by contacting their relatives on social media and demanding they help Russia.

Key facts

  • Reported by NPR and published Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:33:53 UTC.

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  • Official statements or denials from the governments named
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Coverage timeline

When each newsroom published on this story, oldest first — all times UTC.

  1. Ukraine's message to Asian nations: your chips are turning up in Russian missiles

  2. US announces charges against five alleged agents for Russia over assassination plots

  3. Tall athletes can't stretch their legs in container beds at Asian Games, official says

  4. Russian drone strike kills 5 and injures at least 7 on passenger bus in Ukraine

  5. Zelenskyy says Ukraine is "ready for energy ceasefire" with Russia

  6. Iran: Activists sound alarm as regime seizes Baha'i assets

  7. Russia seizes Ukrainian POWs, then it demands favors from their relatives

Sources

The original report was published by NPR. WorldPing does not claim that reporting — this page summarises and contextualises it.

Read the full report at NPR

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Iran: Activists sound alarm as regime seizes Baha'i assets

Rights groups warn Iran is increasingly confiscating assets from government critics and members of the country's Baha'i faith, but also actors, athletes and journalists living abroad.

Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by Deutsche Welle