Citizens of 51 countries are in Ukrainian captivity, ombudsman says
Photo: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Getty Images)
Citizens of 51 countries who fought on the side of the Russian army have ended up in Ukrainian captivity. The figure highlights the scale of foreign involvement in Russia's war, according to Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
One of the issues Lubinets highlighted during the annual meeting of the heads of Ukraine's foreign diplomatic missions was the participation of foreign nationals in the war on Russia's side.
"Citizens of 51 countries have been captured in Ukraine while fighting as part of the Russian army. That is why it is important to speak honestly and openly to the world about the fact that joining Russia's war has real legal consequences," he said.
The ombudsman also recalled other key humanitarian issues. In particular, 20,610 cases of the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children have already been confirmed. Under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, 2,425 children have been returned, including 465 with the assistance of the Ombudsman's Office.
In addition, thousands of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war remain in Russian captivity. According to Lubinets, every Russian crime must be properly documented, and those responsible must be held accountable.
Earlier, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that at least 20 Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian forces again after being returned to Russia in prisoner exchanges.
According to the headquarters, Russia sends them back to the front after their return.
More recently, soldiers from Ukraine's Special Operations Forces captured two Russian soldiers without firing a single shot.
