Russia provided data on 79 missing Ukrainian soldiers - Lubinets
The Russian side confirmed the whereabouts of 79 Ukrainian servicemen who were previously considered missing under special circumstances. This was announced on August 19 by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada Dmitry Lubinets following negotiations with Russian Ombudswoman Yana Lantratova.
According to Lubinets, the Russian commissioner reported the verification of 79 persons from among the Ukrainian servicemen who were being sought as missing. The negotiations took place against the backdrop of the next prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.
Establishing the whereabouts does not mean the return of the servicemen home. This is about receiving confirmation from the Russian side regarding people whose fate had previously remained officially unknown. The published information does not disclose their names or specific places of detention.
Russia announced inspections of detention places of Ukrainian prisoners
During the negotiations, the parties also discussed the continuation of prisoner-of-war exchanges. According to Lubinets, Lantratova reported on visits to several places where Ukrainian servicemen are held and stated her intention to establish systematic monitoring of such facilities with the involvement of regional structures.
The Ukrainian ombudsman separately raised the issue of the soonest release of wounded and injured prisoners of war. He also reminded the Russian side about the letter from the families of defenders held in Olenivka, which he conveyed during previous negotiations and on which Ukraine awaits a response.
The ombudsmen exchanged letters from Ukrainian prisoners of war and their relatives. In addition, the possibility of providing Ukrainian prisoners with telephone communication with their families was discussed.
Ukraine offers international monitoring
Another topic of negotiations was the fate of illegally detained Ukrainian civilians. Lubinets proposed creating a monitoring mission involving ombudsmen of other states. According to him, this mechanism is currently at the stage of elaboration.
Work on establishing the fate of missing servicemen is carried out, among other things, through the exchange of lists. During the previous meeting, the ombudsmen agreed to continue mutual verification of servicemen missing under special circumstances in order to determine whether they are in captivity.
On August 19, Ukraine also returned 103 servicemen from Russian captivity. Among those released are representatives of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service.
Based on materials from: We are Ukraine, Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, Ukrinform
