Russia publishes lists of prisoners of war and claims Ukraine refused to take them back

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, has said that Russia is publishing lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war whom Ukraine supposedly refuses to take back, while itself delaying their return.

Source: Dmytro Lubinets during a press conference at Ukrinform

Details: According to Lubinets, approximately 20 minutes before the start of the press conference, a Russian representative once again published lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war whom Ukraine allegedly refuses to take back.

Lubinets called this part of a Russian information campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine. He said that Russia is trying to portray Ukraine as a state that fails to fulfil its obligations, including in the field of international humanitarian law.

Quote: "The Russian Federation is fighting against us not only with missiles, drones and the Russian army. It is also actively working against us through information, information campaigns and disinformation around the world. The main goal is to discredit Ukraine as a state, as a democratic state, and to discredit the assistance Ukraine receives from its international partners."

Details: Lubinets stressed that he is involved in negotiations with the Russian side on the return of prisoners of war and that Ukraine has never refused to take back any of its citizens.

Quote: "We have never refused to take back any Ukrainian prisoner of war, civilian hostage or Ukrainian child. We are ready to take back absolutely everyone whom the Russian Federation is willing to hand over to us."

Details: According to Lubinets, after Russia publishes such lists, the Ukrainian side immediately sends a request and confirms its readiness to take the prisoners of war back. Russia, he claims, then begins a lengthy approval process and delays the procedure, while simultaneously accusing Ukraine of refusing to take back its citizens.

Lubinets believes that in this way Russia is attempting to exert psychological pressure on the families of prisoners of war and missing persons and deepen their distrust of Ukrainian government authorities.

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