Ukraine returns almost 2,600 people from captivity during full-scale war

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, said this in a comment to Espreso.

"Captured Ukrainians, both military and civilians, were held captive long before the full-scale invasion. There are people who have been in captivity since 2014. Nevertheless, the process is ongoing, and Ukraine is mostly managing to return citizens in a bilateral format: defenders and civilians. There have been 48 exchanges since the full-scale invasion, and almost 2,600 Ukrainians have been returned. The work is ongoing and there will definitely be news," emphasizes Yusov.

The intelligence also reminded that Russia does not comply with the Geneva Conventions.

"Difficulties on the part of the Russian Federation regarding the implementation of the Geneva Conventions and compliance with international humanitarian law are traditional things. As for how the aggressor state may interpret certain international events (in particular, the return of Azov commanders home) or the actions of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces, I think we should definitely not take this into account. The work on the exchange is underway, and it is very important that the exchange fund, in particular as a result of the active actions of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces, is being replenished, and it is being replenished a lot," said Andriy Yusov.

The Main Intelligence Directorate emphasizes that Ukraine is ready to return its citizens.

"That is, many Russian soldiers are now and have recently been taken prisoner by Ukraine. Some of them - about one in five - surrendered voluntarily, in particular, using the I Want to Live program, and this work continues. Shoigu said after the Azov commanders returned from Turkey that an important task of the so-called 'special military operation' was to return Russian prisoners of war home. Well, there were words, there were statements, now we have to wait for concrete actions. Ukraine is ready to return its citizens and, of course, will do everything possible to do so, including in the format of exchanges," the intelligence representative said in a statement.

Prisoner exchange with Russia

On July 6, Ukraine returned 45 people from captivity. Among them are two officers, 41 privates and sergeants, a civilian employee of Azovstal, and a Territorial defense fighter from Kherson.

On July 7, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that Ukraine has managed to identify most of the bodies of prisoners of war killed in a Russian terrorist attack in the village of Olenivka, Donetsk region. 

On July 12, Ukraine managed to return the bodies of 19 people who died in Russian captivity.

In addition, on Friday, August 4, the bodies of 44 more dead Ukrainian soldiers were returned home.

On August 22, Ukraine initiated the creation of mixed medical commissions with the participation of representatives of neutral countries. This decision will help to exchange Ukrainian prisoners and allow the Russian side to return its military. On the same day, Russia returned the bodies of 12 Ukrainian defenders, confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross as having been held in captivity.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that the involvement of a third country in the release of civilians from Russian captivity will allow the use of "pendulum diplomacy."

Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said that Ukraine has problems with the exchange fund, and Russia does not want to take back its prisoners of war.