Ukraine accuses Russia of blocking POW returns, calls propaganda claims 'absolute lies'
Read NV on Google
Russia is not interested in returning its prisoners of war, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said in a comment to Ukrinform on June 15.
Ukraine has never refused prisoner exchanges and is actively taking new initiatives in this regard.
"If the Russians were interested in returning their prisoners of war, we would have done it long ago," said the ombudsman.
Lubinets also called Russia's attempts to blame Ukraine for the disruption of the next exchange typical Russian propaganda.
He added that several countries are helping Ukraine with prisoner exchanges.
"But we hope to gain additional leverage over Russia and achieve new positive results," Lubinets said.
POW exchanges between Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine conducted its 52nd prisoner exchange with Russia on May 31, returning 74 military and civilian Ukrainians home. According to the Coordination Headquarters, 3,210 Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity.
A few days earlier, Russian Human Rights Ombudsperson Tatyana Moskalkova claimed that prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine had been "suspended for several months." The Ukrainian ombudsman's office denied these claims and blamed Russia for the delays.
In early June, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was holding nearly 6,500 Ukrainian soldiers captive. Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, denied this statement.
The largest exchange since the Russian invasion began took place on January 3, 2024, when Ukraine returned 230 citizens, including 213 soldiers and sergeants, 11 officers, and six civilians. Among them were the defenders of Azovstal.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
