Russia Delays Major 1000 for 1000 Prisoner Swap, Ukraine Claims

Ukraine has finished all necessary preparations for a massive prisoner exchange in a 1000 for 1000 format and has submitted the required lists of names.

However, the process is currently being delayed due to the stance taken by the Russian Federation. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets shared this update during a national broadcast, according to Hromadske on May 12.

Lubinets explained that the delay is caused exclusively by the position of the Russian side. He noted that even when an agreement is reached with Russia, there is never total certainty that it will be followed.

He stated, “The delay we have is exclusively due to the position of the Russian side. When I comment on this publicly, I always say that even when you have agreed on something with the Russian side, you can never be 100% sure that it will be observed.”

Efforts to finalize the exchange continue daily. These negotiations involve the personal participation of Lubinets through communication with the Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova.

The Ukrainian side is prioritizing the return of the severely wounded, the seriously ill, and those who have been in captivity since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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The Ombudsman emphasized that the Ukrainian negotiation group completed its tasks a long time ago. The lists were handed over, and Ukraine continues to insist on prioritizing specific vulnerable groups for the first stage of the return.

Lubinets mentioned that Ukraine decided to speak openly about the situation only after Russia made accusations regarding the alleged disruption of the swap.

This specific exchange became public before its execution due to the involvement of the United States as a mediating country. Under this mediation, Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a three-day truce on May 9, 10, and 11. In addition to a temporary halt in hostilities, the deal included the exchange of 1000 prisoners from each side.

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