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Ombudsman denies Russian claim that Kyiv is delaying prisoner exchanges

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Ombudsman denies Russian claim that Kyiv is delaying prisoner exchanges
Activists and relatives of Ukrainian POWs with flags and banners urge for the return of Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity during the rally in Lviv, Ukraine, on May 18, 2024. (Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Kyiv is ready to bring back all Ukrainians from Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Dec. 2, denying the claims of his Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova.

Lubinets's response came after Moskalkova published alleged lists of 600 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Russia, whom Kyiv allegedly "did not agree to take back."

"Ukraine is not delaying and did not delay the exchanges, but on the contrary, declared its readiness to repatriate seriously injured and seriously ill prisoners by creating a mixed medical commission," the Ukrainian ombudsman said.

"And the party that is not really interested in returning and implementing the exchanges is still ignoring the creation of such a commission."

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War echoed Lubinets' remarks.

Dmytro Usov, the secretary of the organization, said that Russian lists include seven Ukrainian soldiers who have already been exchanged, 14 civilians, and pointed out mistakes in the names and dates of birth of captured ones.

According to Usov, Russia offered Ukraine to swap only those Russian soldiers captured in embattled Kursk Oblast.

"The Russian authorities are not interested in captured Russians from other regions," he added.

"This Russians' game is only for the public, and it is especially cynical. They are manipulating the fate of people and the vulnerable situation of their relatives."

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the two sides have frequently exchanged prisoners. The most recent swap occurred in mid-October, with each side bringing back 95 prisoners.

According to Lubinets, 3,767 Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home since the start of the all-out war. Kyiv aims to conduct an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

Ukraine calls on Moscow to provide list of POWs ready for swap
Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on Nov. 3 that Ukraine remains willing to receive its citizens and blamed Russia for slowing down the exchanges.
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Kateryna Denisova

News Editor

Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.

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