Red Cross visited Ukrainian prisoners of war

Onischenko Elena

Ukrainian prisoners of war held by russia were visited by the Red Cross last week. The next visit is scheduled for this week.

The Red Cross press service, the Russian service of the BBC, and the President of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, reported this on Twitter.

"The ICRC last week carried out one two-day visit to Ukrainian prisoners of war, with another happening this week. During the same period, visits were also carried out to Russian prisoners of war, with more visits planned by the end of the month," the press service of the Red Cross said in a statement.

It is reported that representatives of the ICRC checked the conditions of detention and treatment of prisoners of war and delivered personal hygiene products, blankets, warm clothes, and books to the prisoners. The ICRC also contacted the families of the prisoners to relay news from their loved ones.

The ICRC emphasized that all prisoners of war have the right to regular visits by ICRC delegates. While the recent visits mean important progress, the ICRC must be granted unhindered access to all detainees repeatedly and without guards, wherever they are held.

The BBC reports that earlier, the occupation administration in the captured territories of Ukraine's east prevented international observers from accessing places where Ukrainian prisoners were held. It is still unclear what made the russian side start cooperating. At the same time, the BBC emphasizes that Ukraine has never hindered the work of international humanitarian organizations.

In addition, on December 8, the President of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, arrived in Ukraine for a four-day visit.

She said: "Today, I'll meet with people in Mykolayiv and Kherson Oblast who are facing a desperate winter – and meet the ICRC Ukraine and 

Red Cross Ukraine teams working to help."

Spoljaric called visits to prisoners of war an essential step for "preserving humanity amid the cruelty of the international armed conflict." She expects these visits will lead to more regular access to POWs.