How many "Azov" fighters remain in Russian captivity, and how many have been freed?
Source: Slovo i Dilo
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine and Russia have carried out 68 prisoner exchanges, the most recent of which took place on Ukraine’s Independence Day. More than 140 Ukrainians—both military personnel and civilians—have returned home. At the same time, more than 800 Azov fighters remain in Russian captivity, and the Russian side is reluctant to include them on the lists. “Azov” itself has been designated a terrorist organization by Russia for more than three years. As of September, Ukraine has managed to repatriate more than 450 “Azov” fighters, and efforts to secure their release are ongoing. Detailed monthly statistics on public prisoner exchanges are shown in the infographic.
Ukraine has managed to repatriate just over 450 Azov fighters through exchanges with Russia, while more than 800 remain in captivity. See the infographic for more details.
Over 800 Azov fighters remain in Russian captivity. Slovo i Dilo. Full-size image (opens in a new window)
For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, Azov fighters were successfully returned from Russian captivity on June 29, 2022. At that time, 43 Azov fighters were released as part of an exchange. Another 108 Azov fighters returned home on September 22; the exchange took place in Ankara.
Among those released were five commanders who led the defense of Azovstal: Azov commander Denys Prokopenko (“Redis”), acting commander of the 36th Marine Brigade Serhiy Volynskyi (“Volyna”), Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment Sviatoslav Palamar (“Kalyna”), Head of Azovstal’s defense Oleg Khomenko (“Apis”), and Commander of the 12th Special Operations Brigade Denys Shlega.
According to the agreements reached, they were to remain in Turkey under the president’s personal protection until the end of the war. However, following negotiations with the Turkish side in July 2023, the five commanders returned to Ukraine along with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting Turkey.
By the end of 2022, Ukraine had repatriated another 15 “Azov” fighters—two on October 17, one on October 29, and 12 on December 31.
In 2023, according to data from open sources, 46 Azov fighters were released from Russian captivity. On April 10, Valeria Karpilenko (“Nava”), the spokesperson for the Azov Regiment, returned home, and on May 6, another 45 soldiers from that regiment were released.
In 2024, the largest number of Azov fighters since the start of the full-scale war—169 soldiers—were successfully returned. On May 31, one Azov representative was among those released from captivity. And during the prisoner exchange on August 24, 115 defenders who had been held in enemy captivity for over two years were returned to Ukraine. These were primarily defenders from Mariupol and the Kyiv region. Among them were 85 Azov fighters.
On September 13, 15 fighters from the 12th Azov Brigade (four male fighters and 11 female service members) were successfully returned. They had spent more than two years in Russian captivity. The next exchange took place immediately on September 14—another 23 Azov fighters were released from captivity. During the exchange on October 18, Russia released 34 fighters from the Azov Regiment, and another 11 soldiers returned home to Ukraine on December 30.
Since the beginning of 2025, Ukraine has managed to repatriate at least 7 Azov fighters: 1 on January 15 and 6 on March 19. Currently, after reviewing reports on public prisoner exchanges, the exact dates of the exchanges and the return dates for approximately 70 soldiers from the Azov Regiment remain unknown.
As a reminder, in early 2025, Ukraine secured a separate arrangement for the return from Russia of seriously ill and severely wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine and Russia have carried out 68 prisoner exchanges, the most recent of which took place on Ukraine’s Independence Day. More than 140 Ukrainians—both military personnel and civilians—have returned home. At the same time, more than 800 Azov fighters remain in Russian captivity, and the Russian side is reluctant to include them on the lists. “Azov” itself has been designated a terrorist organization by Russia for more than three years. As of September, Ukraine has managed to repatriate more than 450 “Azov” fighters, and efforts to secure their release are ongoing. Detailed monthly statistics on public prisoner exchanges are shown in the infographic.
Ukraine has managed to repatriate just over 450 Azov fighters through exchanges with Russia, while more than 800 remain in captivity. See the infographic for more details.
Over 800 Azov fighters remain in Russian captivity. Slovo i Dilo. Full-size image (opens in a new window)
For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, Azov fighters were successfully returned from Russian captivity on June 29, 2022. At that time, 43 Azov fighters were released as part of an exchange. Another 108 Azov fighters returned home on September 22; the exchange took place in Ankara.
Among those released were five commanders who led the defense of Azovstal: Azov commander Denys Prokopenko (“Redis”), acting commander of the 36th Marine Brigade Serhiy Volynskyi (“Volyna”), Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment Sviatoslav Palamar (“Kalyna”), Head of Azovstal’s defense Oleg Khomenko (“Apis”), and Commander of the 12th Special Operations Brigade Denys Shlega.
According to the agreements reached, they were to remain in Turkey under the president’s personal protection until the end of the war. However, following negotiations with the Turkish side in July 2023, the five commanders returned to Ukraine along with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting Turkey.
By the end of 2022, Ukraine had repatriated another 15 “Azov” fighters—two on October 17, one on October 29, and 12 on December 31.
In 2023, according to data from open sources, 46 Azov fighters were released from Russian captivity. On April 10, Valeria Karpilenko (“Nava”), the spokesperson for the Azov Regiment, returned home, and on May 6, another 45 soldiers from that regiment were released.
In 2024, the largest number of Azov fighters since the start of the full-scale war—169 soldiers—were successfully returned. On May 31, one Azov representative was among those released from captivity. And during the prisoner exchange on August 24, 115 defenders who had been held in enemy captivity for over two years were returned to Ukraine. These were primarily defenders from Mariupol and the Kyiv region. Among them were 85 Azov fighters.
On September 13, 15 fighters from the 12th Azov Brigade (four male fighters and 11 female service members) were successfully returned. They had spent more than two years in Russian captivity. The next exchange took place immediately on September 14—another 23 Azov fighters were released from captivity. During the exchange on October 18, Russia released 34 fighters from the Azov Regiment, and another 11 soldiers returned home to Ukraine on December 30.
Since the beginning of 2025, Ukraine has managed to repatriate at least 7 Azov fighters: 1 on January 15 and 6 on March 19. Currently, after reviewing reports on public prisoner exchanges, the exact dates of the exchanges and the return dates for approximately 70 soldiers from the Azov Regiment remain unknown.
As a reminder, in early 2025, Ukraine secured a separate arrangement for the return from Russia of seriously ill and severely wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war.
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