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A Ukrainian delegation headed by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has called on Russia to ensure that representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have access to all Ukrainian prisoners of war. Mr. Lubinets said this on his Telegram channel.
“The Ukrainian side has repeatedly emphasized the importance of allowing the ICRC to visit the places of detention of our prisoners of war so that the organization can fulfill its mandate in accordance with the Geneva Conventions,” the ombudsman said.
The quadripartite meeting, organized at the initiative of Ukraine, brought together for the first time the Ukrainian and Russian sides, ICRC representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The Russian side was represented by Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova, and the ICRC was represented by Jurg Eglin and Boris Michel.
Among the key topics of discussion was the creation of mixed medical commissions that will prioritize the exchange of prisoners based on their health. The parties also agreed to continue exchanging information on the search for missing persons and the return of illegally detained civilians.
As a reminder, Ukraine is actively working to free its citizens. In September, 49 military and civilians, including 23 women, were returned from Russian captivity. In October, the 58th exchange took place, during which 95 defenders returned home. The latest exchange, held on January 15, resulted in the release of 25 Ukrainian citizens, including defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal.
