Former USSR leader's great-grandson captured by Ukraine: Reports

Reports indicate that Anton Milaev, the adopted great-grandson of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, has been captured by Ukrainian forces. Milaev, 45, is said to have enlisted in the Russian military as a sapper, or combat engineer, in the autumn of 2025. His mother, Irina Kuznetsova, reportedly lost contact with him in November, and months later, the family was informed of his capture in the Kherson region.

The claim was initially published by Baza, a Russian Telegram channel with alleged ties to security services, and has since been echoed by several Ukrainian media outlets. While there has been no official confirmation from Kyiv, sources within Ukraine's military intelligence agency have reportedly confirmed Milaev's status to BBC News Ukraine. Investigative outlet Babel also reported confirmation from sources within Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Milaev is the adopted grandson of Galina Brezhneva, Leonid Brezhnev's daughter, and was reportedly raised by her. His name has also appeared on Myrotvorets, a controversial Ukrainian online database that lists individuals considered "enemies of Ukraine." The database states he voluntarily joined Russia's war effort in 2025.

Leonid Brezhnev led the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, a period often characterized by political and economic stagnation. He was born in what is now Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. The circumstances of Milaev's capture remain unclear, and there is no information regarding his potential inclusion in future prisoner exchanges, though recent swaps have occurred between Ukraine and Russia.