Ukraine and Russia are finalising lists for a new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, said Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, on 26 August. She did not specify the dates or the number of participants. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters had previously confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and that state bodies are preparing for further returns of people from captivity.
Briefly about the main points
- Russia has announced that it is preparing a new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war.
- The parties are working to agree on the exchange lists.
- Ukraine has not disclosed the details of the future agreement.
- On 19 August, 103 Ukrainian servicemen returned from captivity.
- The Coordination Centre does not publish lists until the procedure has been completed, for security reasons.
Preparations are continuing without any details being made public
Lantratova She said that the parties were preparing «another fairly large-scale prisoner exchange». The Coordination Centre had previously reported on the continuation of the negotiation process and preparations for further exchanges; however, as of the morning of 26 August, it had not provided any specific details regarding the terms of the new agreement.
The headquarters explains that the lists are not made public prior to the exchange for security reasons. They are compiled and updated using information from state authorities, the International Committee of the Red Cross, those released and their relatives. The decision to hand over a specific individual is taken by the state holding them.
The last confirmed transaction took place on 19 August
At that time, from Russian captivity 103 Ukrainian servicemen have returned, most of whom had sustained injuries or were suffering from serious illnesses. Among those released were members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Navy, the Territorial Defence Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service.
Ukraine handed over the same number of prisoners of war to the Russian side. According to the Coordination Headquarters, this was the first stage of the latest exchange, which was facilitated by the US and the UAE. Upon their return, the state must ensure that those released receive medical examinations, physical and psychological rehabilitation, and the payments to which they are entitled.
Ukraine has warned against Russia’s statements regarding lists of prisoners of war
On 13 August, the Centre for Countering Disinformation reported that Lantratova had been spreading claims about Ukraine’s alleged unwillingness to repatriate certain servicemen. The Ukrainian Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, described these statements as manipulative, whilst the Coordination Headquarters stated that Russia had stepped up its information campaign surrounding the prisoner exchanges.
This latest statement differs from previous public announcements in that it concerns the coordination of lists between the parties, rather than the lists unilaterally published by Russia. During the exchange on 19 August Lubinec and Lantratova also discussed the search for those missing in action, regular visits to places where prisoners are held, and letters from their relatives.
Confirmation will be provided in a message once the procedure has been completed
The exact details of exchanges are often not disclosed until the individuals have actually returned. The Coordination Centre informs the families of those released by telephone, via SMS and through the «Diya» app. The next public confirmation of the agreements is expected to be an announcement by the Centre regarding the exchange that has taken place.
