Return from captivity: what support is available
For former war prisoners, the effects of captivity do not end with their release. Physical and psychological consequences often persist, while practical demands can be overwhelming in the first days and weeks. One of the main risks during this period is being left alone to navigate recovery and bureaucracy. Frontliner outlines how to avoid that.
In most cases, people returning from captivity need several forms of support at once: medical stabilization, rehabilitation, psychological care, social assistance and legal steps to restore rights and access to benefits and services. This is how state support programs for released captives are designed.
Privacy and personal security are also critical. Public attention, media interest and intrusive questions can retraumatize. Official guidance for families stresses respect for personal boundaries, control over contact with others and avoiding pressure to share details.
Medical and psychological rehabilitation
Ukraine’s Health Ministry describes support for released captives as a combination of medical care, rehabilitation and psychological assistance, with guarantees of confidentiality and safety. This approach is essential, not procedural. Medical consequences of captivity often emerge over time and are easier to manage with monitoring and a structured care plan.
The ministry has updated patient pathways and the list of medical facilities working with former captives, with care organized by stages — from initial stabilization to longer-term rehabilitation and psychological support. Under the state medical guarantee program, rehabilitation remains a priority. Access should be provided through the health care system, not informal channels.
Legal aid
Legal support typically includes two components. The first is free legal aid: consultations, help with documentation, representation and legal defense. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says secondary free legal aid remains available after release from captivity.
The second involves formal recognition of captivity and related legal status. This includes establishing the fact of unlawful detention, accessing state guarantees and compensation, and reimbursement of legal costs. These rights are set out in Law No. 2010-IX and detailed in government regulations on post-isolation and reintegration measures. Application procedures and service instructions are published by the relevant ministry.
Tips after returning
- Start with a care plan that includes a medical assessment and a rehabilitation pathway.
- If psychological or psychiatric care is needed, use the contacts listed in the Coordination Headquarters’ guidance for released captives.
- Address legal issues early. Consultations are available through the free legal aid contact center at 0-800-213-103.
- Keep and organize documents related to benefits and compensation, including certificates, medical reports and receipts for treatment and rehabilitation. This will simplify future applications.
- For families: avoid pressuring with questions or making decisions on the person’s behalf. Ask how support is preferred. This reflects the guidance of mental health professionals.
Reintegration into society
Reintegration is not limited to returning to work or daily routines. It also involves restoring a sense of control, choosing when and with whom to communicate, what to disclose and how to structure daily life. In practice, the greatest harm often comes from external pressure: rumors, excessive public attention and expectations to speak publicly. Guidance from the Coordination Headquarters emphasizes a simple principle: support should be respectful and voluntary.
For communities and employers, practical support matters more than symbolic gestures: flexible schedules during treatment, the option to take breaks, clear access to psychological and legal services, and communication without pressure.
Adapted: Kateryna Saienko
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Frontliner wishes to acknowledge the financial assistance of the European Union though its Frontline and Investigative Reporting project (FAIR Media Ukraine), implemented by Internews International in partnership with the Media Development Foundation (MDF). Frontliner retains full editorial independence and the information provided here does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Internews International or MDF.
