Anton Milaev, who took part in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces in the spring of 2026. Ukrainian military intelligence and prisoner‑of‑war coordination sources confirmed his custody in the Kherson region (Times of India).

The exact circumstances of Milaev’s capture remain unknown or unclear, according to the New York Post, which also noted that any chance of a future prison swap for him remains unknown.

Times of India reported that Milaev was a sapper and that he was last heard from in November 2025. The outlet also said he appears on a Ukrainian ‘enemies’ database.

Meduza.io reported that Milaev is the biological grandson of Soviet circus performer Yevgeny Milaev, who was the first husband of Galina Brezhneva, the daughter of the Soviet general secretary. The Telegram channel Baza claimed that Galina Brezhneva raised her grandson “like her own.”