Ukraine has preliminary agreements with Russia that prisoner of war exchanges will become systematic in 2025.
This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets on the air of the telethon Single news.
Prisoner of war exchanges with Russia
According to the Ukrainian ombudsman, exchanges in 2025 should become systematic, with priority given to returning the seriously ill and seriously wounded first.
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— There was a working meeting right away. We agreed in advance that exchanges should take place systematically. I don't want this to sound like an announcement now, but we will see whether the Russian side keeps its word. If so, then Ukrainian society will see this systematicity in terms of quantity, timing, categories, — he said.
The Ombudsman explained that Ukraine forms lists based on physical health, that is, the seriously wounded and seriously ill are returned from Russian captivity first.
— The second and final principle is fairness. Those who are in captivity longer are released earlier. It seems to me that this is an absolutely understandable approach for both sides. I received confirmation from Moskalkova that they are ready to form lists based on these principles. We will see if the Russian side keeps its word, — said Lubinets.
According to the preliminary agreement, each Ukrainian prisoner of war and civilian hostage will receive a package with things from Ukraine with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
— We managed to organize a permanent channel of communication, the transfer of postcards between families and Ukrainian prisoners of war. 1.5 thousand packages have been transferred, — he noted.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 11 exchanges were conducted in 2024, resulting in the release of 1,358 Ukrainian citizens.
