A number of state media were prohibited from quoting statements by the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, unless they related to neutral topics, a source in one of the state media told Vorstka. According to an interlocutor close to the Ministry of Defense, a black PR campaign was also prepared against the “Kremlin chef”, which it was decided not to start yet.

International law prohibits parties to a military conflict from taking civilians prisoner. Nevertheless, the taking of civilian hostages has become one of the hallmarks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, human rights activists note. People who are in no way connected with the army or armed forces are often taken into Russian captivity. Some are charged with various crimes included in the Criminal Code, others are called detained for “opposing the SVO,” although such wording does not exist legally.