Ukraine has started receiving information about its prisoners of war (POWs) fro Russia. According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, the first step was exchanging postcards during the last prisoner swap.
“We have finally begun receiving some information about our prisoners from the Russian side,” said Lubinets. “During the last prisoner exchange, we exchanged postcards. Additionally, we conducted a survey of returned Ukrainian POWs in the presence of Russian representatives. Our personnel were present as Ukrainian prisoners expressed gratitude to their captors.”
Lubinets expressed hope that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) would be granted access to Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia. He criticized the condition of returned POWs, citing evidence of torture-related deaths.
“I don’t know how we should put pressure on the Russians and the ICRC so that the Russians finally start fulfilling their international obligations, and we stop returning our prisoners of war in such a way. terrible physical condition. We have confirmation that our prisoners in Russia died from torture,” according to Lubinets.
The Ukrainian government has identified the United Arab Emirates as the most effective mediator in securing the return of Ukrainian prisoners.
“Regarding the return of Ukrainian prisoners, we currently have the UAE as our main partner. We thank them very much. Our last swaps took place through the mediation of this country’s diplomats,” he said.
Ukraine is actively negotiating with the UAE to deliver humanitarian aid packages to Ukrainian POWs.
“But this does not mean that other countries do not help us. When countries publicly condemn the Russians for non-fulfillment of the Geneva Convention, in my opinion, this also helps us. The only thing we want is for this to become a more active movement, so that the actions of Russia are recognized as military crimes, in particular, when they torture and kill Ukrainian prisoners of war,” Lubinets stated.
While discussions are underway with the UAE to send humanitarian aid packages to POWs, no agreement has yet been reached with Russia.
Since the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine has made 54 prisoner exchanges, resulting in the return of over 3,400 Ukrainian citizens.
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