Ukraine's ombudsman exposes Russian manipulation over prisoner exchange
Photo: Prisoner exchange (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Ukraine is ready to take back all its prisoners of war, civilian hostages and children. Moscow’s claims that Kyiv is allegedly refusing to take back its citizens are another information attack, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said.
According to him, Russia had launched a media campaign to discredit Ukraine. Russian representatives published lists of prisoners whom Ukraine allegedly "refuses to take back."
"We have never refused to take back any Ukrainian prisoner of war, civilian hostage or Ukrainian child. We are ready to take back absolutely everyone whom Russia is ready to return to us," Lubinets emphasized.
Russia is delaying the exchange process
The ombudsman explained that after such lists are published, the Ukrainian side immediately sends an official request and confirms its readiness to promptly take back its citizens.
However, instead of genuine cooperation, the Russian side begins lengthy approval procedures, delaying the process.
"All of this is done to play on the emotions of the families of prisoners of war and missing persons, because for this category of our citizens, captivity is a terrifying daily reality without an answer to the most important question: where is my loved one, what is happening to them now, and why are they not being returned?" he said.
It should be recalled that Russia is preparing a new information campaign about prisoners of war, attempting to create the impression among Western audiences that it is treating Ukrainians humanely.
Earlier, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that after exchanges, Russian soldiers are increasingly surrendering to Ukrainian captivity again. As of the end of July, 20 such cases had already been recorded.
