Ukraine and Russia on October 23 carried out a mutual return of civilians with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Seven Ukrainians returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine, including a 90-year-old woman and a mother with a child, who could not leave occupied Mariupol.
This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets. According to him, the return became possible thanks to humanitarian agreements with Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova.
As part of the agreements, seven Ukrainians returned home, and seven people went to Russia for family reunification. Organizational support was provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Among those who were returned to Ukraine is a 90-year-old woman with limited mobility and a 50-year-old Ukrainian woman who suffered a myocardial infarction and a stroke. Due to the complex health condition of both women, special transportation conditions were organized for them.
Also, a young woman with a child was returned to Ukraine. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, she was temporarily in Mariupol, but after the hostilities and occupation of the city, she could not leave to her family.
One of the main obstacles was the preparation of documents for the child. Thanks to humanitarian negotiations, this problem was resolved, and the family returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine. According to Lubinets, the woman and child need psychological support after what they have been through.
The return of civilians took place amid a meeting of Ukrainian and Russian ombudsmen in Belarus. As reported by the publication Astra with reference to Russian state media, the procedure was organized at the "Nova Huta" checkpoint in the Gomel region, near the Belarus-Ukraine border.
Russian media reported the return of members of six families in each direction. At the same time, the Ukrainian ombudsman named the exact number of people - seven from each side. These reports do not necessarily contradict each other, as they refer to the number of families and the number of citizens, respectively.
Earlier, Astra also reported, citing State Duma deputy Shamsail Saraliev, that a separate exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia may take place on October 23.
At the same time, the return of seven civilians should not be equated with an exchange of prisoners of war. The Ukrainian side reported a humanitarian operation for the return of citizens and family reunification. There is no official confirmation of the conduct of a separate exchange of prisoners of war at the time of preparation of this material.
Earlier, "Kurs Ukrainy" reported that on June 5, Lubinets held the first working meeting with Yana Lantratova. The parties then agreed to continue humanitarian contacts, in particular regarding the return of civilians, verification of lists of prisoners, search for missing persons and family reunification.
According to the Ukrainian ombudsman, the work of this communication channel will continue. Citizens whose relatives remain in the temporarily occupied territories or in Russia and need help with return can contact the Ombudsman's Office by short number 1678.
Based on materials: Dmytro Lubinets, Astra
