Brezhnev's Great-Grandson Captured While Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Anton Milaev, the great-grandson of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, has been captured by Ukrainian forces while serving as a combat engineer in the Russian military, according to Russian and Ukrainian sources. The 45-year-old reportedly lost contact with his family in November 2025 before his mother was informed of his capture.

Milaev is the adopted grandson of Galina Brezhneva, Leonid Brezhnev's daughter. Leonid Brezhnev led the Soviet Union from 1964 until his death in 1982, a tenure second in length only to Joseph Stalin's. Milaev's name appeared on Myrotvorets, a Ukrainian online database listing individuals considered enemies of Ukraine, which claimed he voluntarily enlisted in autumn 2025.

A BBC report, citing a source in Ukraine's main directorate of intelligence, confirmed that Milaev is being held captive. Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine's defence ministry, also commented on the capture. However, Ukrainian authorities have not issued an official statement, and the claims have not been independently verified.

The capture occurs amid ongoing discussions about prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his willingness to conduct an 'all-for-all' exchange of prisoners held by both countries. In February, Zelensky stated that Ukraine holds over 4,000 Russian prisoners of war, while around 7,000 Ukrainians are believed to be in Russian captivity. Last year, the two nations carried out their largest prisoner exchange since the war began, with hundreds of Ukrainian captives returning home.