Ukraine initiates humanitarian POW swaps, handing over wounded directly from battlefield
Photo: Ukraine begins indefinite sanitary prisoner swap with Russia (Getty Images)
Ukraine was the first to start indefinite humanitarian swaps with Russia. Wounded prisoners were handed over directly from the front line, reports the I Want to Live project.
According to the report, today, June 14, the fourth day of the prisoner swap under the all-for-all format, took place in two categories. This is the third stage of returning severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war. The first stage took place on June 10, the second on June 12. Military personnel under the age of 25 were also included in this swap.
"Also today, according to the agreements reached in Istanbul, Ukraine was the first to begin implementing the procedure under the formula of 'indefinite humanitarian swap,'" the statement said.
In Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia agreed not only on the return of all prisoners with wounds or illnesses but also on an agreed procedure for the simplified return of wounded prisoners of war.
Therefore, today, Ukraine handed over wounded prisoners of war to the Russian side directly from the front line.
Ukraine has long emphasized that the issue of prisoners of war is purely humanitarian. The Russian side agreed to this for the first time during negotiations in Istanbul on June 2.
"Wounded and ill prisoners of war are a special category. The nature of injuries and wounds sustained during combat requires specialized, costly, and prolonged treatment and rehabilitation," the I Want to Live project stated.
Prisoner swaps
During the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement on a large-scale prisoner swap. The sides agreed on the return of wounded and seriously ill military personnel, as well as all prisoners aged 18 to 25.
The first stages of the swap took place on June 9, 10, and 12. A separate exchange of bodies under the 6,000-for-6,000 format took place on June 11, 13, and 14. Ukraine has already received more than 3,600 bodies of the fallen.
Today, June 14, a new stage of the prisoner swap took place. Many released prisoners have been held since 2022, including those who defended Mariupol.
It is also known that many officers were among those released today, including some previously considered missing.
