Russian agents exploit families of Ukrainian POWs for sabotage

BBC published the story of a Ukrainian woman, wife to a POW, who was targeted by Russian agents to betray her country. 

Svitlana, a 42-year-old Ukrainian woman, never considered betraying her country. For over two years, she had anxiously awaited news of her husband, Dima, an army medic captured by Russian forces. Her wait ended with an unexpected call that would test her resolve.

A man identifying himself as Dmitry contacted Svitlana, offering her husband better treatment or even an early release if she betrayed Ukraine. His demands included acts of sabotage, like setting fire to military offices and revealing the locations of air defense systems, which would assist Russia’s attacks.

Svitlana knew that such tactics were common, with Russian agents often targeting families of POWs to weaken Ukraine. Following guidance from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), she agreed to the demands but secretly recorded every conversation. The SBU advised her to stall for time, report the interactions, and gather evidence.

She shared the recordings with the BBC, revealing Dmitry’s detailed instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails and how to avoid detection. His threats escalated, demanding proof of her actions in exchange for a phone call with Dima or a care package. The SBU assured her that cooperating would only harm her husband’s chances of a prisoner exchange and put her at risk of being seen as a traitor.

Petro Yatsenko, from Ukraine’s POW treatment group, explained that Russian agents exploit the vulnerability of POW families, pressuring them to betray their country. While some act out of desperation, others may be motivated by money. In some cases, sabotage serves Russia’s broader goal of destabilizing Ukraine.

Russia denies using families as leverage, but Svitlana's experience highlights the pressure Ukrainian families face. Despite the threats, her bravery paid off. Three months ago, Dima was released in a prisoner exchange, and now the family enjoys time together in Kyiv. Svitlana recalls the joy of Dima’s return: “I snatched my love from the jaws of death.” When Dima heard about the calls, he asked how she stayed strong. "I’m an officer’s wife," she replied.