About 16% of POWs in Ukraine are Ukrainian citizens
Approximately 16% of those held as prisoners of war in Ukraine are civilians who are Ukrainian citizens.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, during the 3rd Crimea Global international conference
Quote: "In percentage terms, 16% of those currently held in captivity here are our citizens. Of these, 6% are Crimeans. This is a large figure. These are citizens of ours. We understand that, as a state, we must make the right decisions when the Russian side requests their exchange, because it is confusing when a Ukrainian citizen is exchanged for a Ukrainian citizen."
Details: Usov did not specify the total number of POWs in Ukraine but stressed that the figure refers to civilians.
He noted that a draft law is currently under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) that would allow Ukrainian citizens held in captivity in Ukraine to be released, remain in the country and fulfil their obligations.
Background:
- Usov also reported that Russia has conscripted 46,327 Ukrainians from temporarily occupied territories.
- On 15 November, Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, announced that the parties have agreed to activate the Istanbul arrangements, under which 1,200 Ukrainians are to be freed from Russian captivity.
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