Moscow blocks process: Russia announces alleged readiness to exchange 630 prisoners of war

What preceded

Recently, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, stated that Russia is allegedly ready to conduct a prisoner exchange with Ukraine in the format of 630 for 630. Zakharova claimed that the exchange list had supposedly been handed over to the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, and to the Deputy Head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Dmytro Usov, who is one of the leaders of the Coordination Staff for Prisoner of War Affairs.

"The current list includes 630 Ukrainian prisoners of war, whom Russia is ready to immediately transfer to Kyiv on a parity basis," Zakharova said.

Ukraine’s response

The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner of War Affairs believes that Zakharova’s statements may be another form of propaganda.

“Russians have repeatedly used propaganda, including in the Ukrainian media space, to sow discord and division among the families of our defenders, employing blatant lies,” said Andrii Yusov.

He noted that such statements from Russia are not new, but, as in the past, they do not lead to real actions. Despite the public, loud words, the official mechanisms that could initiate the exchange process are simply ignored by the Russian side.

Ukraine has repeatedly confirmed its readiness to conduct exchanges, including for:

• The repatriation of the severely wounded and sick;
• The release of women;
• The return of prisoners of war in an “all for all” format;
• The unconditional release of detained Ukrainian civilians.

Yusov emphasized that it is Russia’s position that currently blocks prisoner exchange processes. Official proposals sent by Ukraine through diplomatic channels remain unanswered, and the loud statements about "readiness for exchange" often turn out to be purely a propaganda element.

It is worth noting that Russia is ignoring the creation and functioning of international mixed medical commissions, despite this mechanism being outlined in the Geneva Conventions.

“We are ready for exchanges; the only obstacle to carrying them out is the inaction of the Russian side. Unfortunately, loud statements do not mean a real willingness to act,” Yusov stressed.

This year alone, Ukraine has proposed dozens of humanitarian initiatives for the mutual return of prisoners, all of which have been ignored by the Russian aggressor, who is, in fact, not interested in returning even its own mercenaries and occupiers.

Prisoner exchange strategy

In June, Ukraine presented a strategy for the return of prisoners at the meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. It was proposed that Ukraine would expand its negotiation group responsible for preparing prisoner exchanges, adding six more structures to the group.

According to the head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, the priority in future prisoner exchanges with Russia will be the severely wounded, women, and all those who defended Azovstal.