(KYIV) – Prisoner exchanges are widely viewed as a route back to freedom, medical treatment and recovery after long periods in captivity. However, testimony from Russian civil activists and interviews with returning prisoners indicate that many Russian prisoners of war are instead sent back to combat shortly after their release.
Members of civic groups involved in tracing and assisting Russian servicemen said a significant number of those freed in recent exchanges are denied the chance to return to civilian life. Instead, they are transferred directly to frontline units, sometimes within hours or days of crossing the border.
The findings were discussed in a recent broadcast hosted by Benjamin Lee, which examined conditions facing both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The report came as Russia carried out another large scale attack on Ukraine, firing 25 missiles and more than 200 drones overnight into February 2.
In Kyiv, two people were wounded. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian forces targeted infrastructure with ballistic missiles.
In Dnipro region, four people were wounded, including an infant less than one month old. Infrastructure facilities and private homes were damaged. In Odesa, one person was injured during attacks on port and civilian infrastructure.
Inside Russia, a warehouse linked to the main missile and artillery directorate of the defence ministry caught fire following a strike. Residents in the affected settlement were evacuated due to the risk of secondary explosions. Regional officials said debris from Ukrainian drones damaged several buildings, including a university facility, injuring two people.
An analysis by the independent Russian outlet Astra said the target was a plant producing equipment for aviation and missile guidance systems.
Along the frontline, fighting continued from Turnove to Huliaypole, while Ukrainian forces reported progress in reducing contested areas near Zaporizhzhia. According to the Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState, Russian infiltration south of the city had been eliminated.
Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had recently advanced towards Pokrovsk but were pushed back following counter attacks that forced units to withdraw to earlier positions.
Beyond the battlefield, security agencies in Norway warned that Russian hybrid operations are expected to intensify in 2026. In its annual threat assessment, Norwegian intelligence said Moscow was increasing espionage and surveillance activity, particularly in the Arctic and along the coast.
Authorities said Russia may seek to sabotage energy infrastructure through physical and cyber means. Norway is currently Europe’s largest supplier of pipeline gas and a key supporter of Ukraine.
Norwegian officials said intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover have been expelled and most ports closed to Russian vessels. Despite this, surveillance of critical infrastructure is expected to continue, often using civilian ships.
The report also warned of attempts to recruit Ukrainian refugees in Norway for intelligence gathering or sabotage, particularly those with relatives or property in Russian occupied areas.
In the Arctic, Norway continues to monitor Russian military activity near the Kola Peninsula, home to the Northern Fleet and major elements of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
Norwegian military leaders said the country views itself as NATO’s primary source of intelligence in the High North.
The broadcast also showed footage of destroyed Ukrainian ground robots used for logistics and medical evacuation, highlighting the role of unmanned systems in reducing casualties.
Additional images showed Ukrainian air and drone strikes on Russian positions, including units linked to Chechen formations, and attacks on Russian shelters inside occupied civilian homes.
Analysts said the reports underline the growing strain on Russian manpower, reflected in the recycling of former prisoners, and the continued reliance on coercion to sustain the war effort.
