Brezhnev's Adopted Russian Soldier Great-Grandson Captured By Ukraine Troops

Awkward, but also interesting that a middle-aged descendent of a former Soviet Supreme Leader would volunteer in the fall of 2025 to serve in the Russian army in Ukraine. 

That was a period when it was already apparent that the Russian invasion was failing and the military service in Ukraine was a bloodbath for Russian men. Did he need the money? Was his family under political pressure? It is odd that a member of the elite would agree to serve given that the entire Russian system is designed to protect such people from such obligations. JL

Vladislav V reports in Militarnyi:

Anton Milaev, the 45-year-old adopted great-grandson of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, was captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine. In the fall of 2025, he signed a contract with the Russian army and went to war as a combat engineer (sapper). By November, he had stopped communicating with his family. The family later received information that Milaev was being held as a prisoner of war in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Kherson region.

Anton Milaev, the 45-year-old adopted great-grandson of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, was captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian news outlet Babel reported the development.

The story was initially published by the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Baza and was later confirmed to Babel by sources in Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. 

According to the publication, Milaev is the adopted grandson of Galina Brezhneva, the daughter of Leonid Brezhnev. In the fall of 2025, he signed a contract with the Russian army and went to war as a combat engineer (sapper). By November, he had stopped communicating with his family.

The family later received information that Milaev was being held as a prisoner of war in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Kherson region.

As previously reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had approved a new procedure for payments related to the capture and elimination of Russian servicemen. 

A reward of 100,000 hryvnias is offered for the capture of an enemy serviceman. The amount will be divided proportionally among the soldiers who directly took part in the capture. 

The measure is expected to increase the number of prisoners of war captured, who could later be exchanged for Ukrainian troops. Eligibility for the payment requires proper verification of the capture, including video documentation of the prisoner being taken into custody.