Anton Milaev, the great-grandson of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, has reportedly been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Milaev, 45, who is the adopted grandson of Brezhnev’s daughter, joined the Russian military as an elite combat engineer and lost contact with his family in November 2025.

According to reports circulating on Russian social media and the Telegram channel Baza, Milaev was captured in a retaken area of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Ukrainian adviser Serhiy Sternenko, who works with the country’s defense minister, also posted about Milaev’s captivity on Telegram on Thursday. The details surrounding Milaev’s capture have not been disclosed, and neither side has provided information regarding any potential prisoner exchange.

Milaev was last active on the Russian social network VKontakte in January 2025, where he posted images of himself in military uniform under the call sign “Udacha.” Family members have described his capture as a stark and ironic twist, noting the contrast between his lineage—descended from a long-serving Soviet General Secretary—and his current status as a prisoner of war.

The situation highlights the complex and personal nature of the ongoing conflict, underscoring how family histories continue to intersect with the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Authorities from both nations have yet to comment officially on Milaev’s capture or its implications.