Reports: The grandson of the former Soviet Union leader is arrested in Ukraine
Ukrainian forces arrested Anton Milaev, the grandson of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, while he was serving in the Russian army, according to media reports.The allegation was first reported by the Russian Baza channel on Telegram known for its links to the country’s security services, and was later cited by several Ukrainian outlets.According to reports, the 45-year-old joined the Russian army as an explosives expert, or combat engineer, in the fall of 2025.Baza reported, citing Milaev’s mother, Irina Kuznetsova, that the family lost contact with him in November last year. Months later, they were informed that Ukrainian forces had arrested and detained him in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian sources reportedly confirmed the arrest
The report has not been independently verified and there has been no official comment from Kyiv.However, a source in the Ukrainian military intelligence agency confirmed to BBC News Ukraine that Milaev was being detained in Ukraine.According to TVP World, sources within the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War also confirmed the seizure of the Babel investigation port.Milaev is the adopted grandson of Galina Brezhneva, daughter of Leonid Brezhnev.
Galina raised him as her own son, according to RBC Ukraine.His name also appeared in Myrotvorets, a controversial Ukrainian online database that lists individuals considered “enemies of Ukraine.”The database describes him as “the grandson of Secretary-General Leonid Brezhnev” and indicates that he voluntarily joined the Russian war effort in 2025, according to The Telegraph.
Who is Leonid Brezhnev?
Leonid Brezhnev served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 until his death in 1982.His 18-year rule was one of the longest in the history of the Soviet Union, and became associated with a period of political and economic stagnation known as “Zastoi”.Brezhnev was born in what is now the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, and was officially listed as of Ukrainian descent on several legal documents, including his passport.Brezhnev’s tenure also included the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which crushed the Prague Spring reform movement and led to the formulation of the so-called Brezhnev Doctrine, under which Moscow justified intervention in Eastern Bloc countries to maintain Soviet influence.
The prisoner exchange remains uncertain
The circumstances surrounding Milaev’s arrest remain unclear, and there is no information about whether he could be included in a future prisoner exchange.Kiev and Moscow have recently conducted several prisoner exchanges, including exchanges under the “1,000 for 1,000” framework. Earlier this month, Ukraine and Russia completed another phase of a large-scale exchange that saw the return of 185 Ukrainian soldiers and one civilian.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that more than 4,000 Russian prisoners of war were being held in Ukraine, while about 7,000 Ukrainians remained in Russian captivity.He reiterated on Friday that Kiev remains ready for a “comprehensive” prisoner exchange, a proposal that Russia has so far rejected.
The war continues despite diplomatic efforts
The reported arrest comes as fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine across multiple fronts.On Saturday, Russian strikes led to the killing and wounding of civilians in several Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhia.Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil facilities in Crimea and southern Russia.With diplomatic efforts still stalled and both sides continuing to exchange attacks, the war has entered its fifth year with no immediate end in sight.
