Azov Brigade Delegation Pushes for POW Release in NATO Talks, Citing Inhumane Russian Captivity

Representatives of the 12th Azov Brigade held meetings at the NATO headquarters dedicated to releasing the Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The delegation consisting of fighters of the 12th Special Operations Brigade Azov Serhii Rotchuk, Nestor Barchuk and Anastasia Lytvynenko, representative of the Coordinating Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Marianna Khomeriki and representative of The Association of "Azovstal" Defenders' Families, the sisters of the convicted "Azov" fighter Yevhenia Synelnyk, held numerous meetings at the NATO headquarters, during which they discussed the issues of Ukrainian defenders who are currently detained in Russian colonies.

The Ukrainian delegation held a meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy Marie-Doha Besancenot, the Head of the Department of Cooperation with Ukraine and Transformation of the Department of NATO Operations Francis Wells, representatives of the Department of Public Diplomacy of NATO and the representative of the Department of Human Security of the Office of the Secretary General of NATO Daniel Byte.

In addition, the Ukrainian delegation managed to meet with the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO Natalia Galibarenko, and the Military Representative of Ukraine to NATO Major General Serhii Salkutsan.

The central focus of the meeting was the exchange of Mariupol defenders, specifically the fighters from the 12th Azov Brigade. Azov soldiers who had been through Russian captivity shared their personal experiences, detailing the harsh and inhumane treatment they endured, which blatantly violates the rules set by international agreements.

Among those reporting massive abuse of POWs are the exchanged defenders of Azovstal, who surrendered in May 2022, becoming Russia’s POWs. Around 1500 Azovstal soldiers remain captured, including 700 Azov Brigade fighters. For more than two years they have been denied access to international observers and communication with family and Ukrainian authorities.

Additionally, Synelnyk shared the story of her brother, who was unjustly sentenced to prison in Russia, highlighting the added complexity of exchanging such POWs. She expressed that, like many other families of POWs, she receives no information about her brother’s whereabouts or health, amplifying the distress and uncertainty for those with loved ones in captivity.

More than 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are currently being held in Russian detention facilities, according to estimates from the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR). During a press conference on September 30, the organization called for increased attention to be given to these detainees.