Families of Mariupol defenders launch campaign to raise awareness to Ukrainian war prisoners
Families of Azovstal defenders in Mariupol and Banda Agency marketing brand have launched a campaign to draw attention to Russia's violations of the Geneva Convention on POW detention.
What is the problem?
The Mariupol siege lasted 86 days until the last battles at the wiped-out Azovstal steel plant. Yet, the amassed Russian troops succeeded in completely surrounding it and burnt the plant to the ground.
On May 16, 2022, Ukraine's highest military leadership ordered to stop the defense of Mariupol and save combat lives. The military had to surrender, as these were the conditions set by Russia.
Ukraine tried to use an exchange to return the defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol. On September 21 last year, 215 Ukrainian troops were released in exchange for the Kremlin-controlled politician Viktor Medvedchuk.
Since then, for 19 months, Russia has been hiding the conditions and whereabouts of 1,600 captured soldiers. The last major exchange was six months ago, the longest period without exchanges since February 24, 2022.
What is the solution?
Families of Azovstal defenders in Mariupol and Banda Agency marketing brand have launched a campaign to draw attention to Russia's violations of the Geneva Convention on POW detention.
"We know from those who have returned that Russian captivity involves torture by starvation, keeping prisoners in unsanitary conditions, not being able to go outside for months, not being provided with medicine or medical care, regular beatings, electric shocks, cutting tattoos, pulling teeth with pliers, holding illegal public trials, not being able to communicate with relatives or receive visits from representatives of international organizations, and concealing their whereabouts."
How does it work?
How to join the campaign?
Relatives of prisoners of war urge Ukrainians to share information about the prisoners on social media and tag the Red Cross.
Materials for the campaign were translated into more than ten languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Polish.
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You can download them here.
Posts on social media should be marked with the hashtag #freeAzovstalDefenders, and international organizations such as the Red Cross, as well as politicians, media and bloggers should be mentioned.
"In any social network, follow @icrc. This is the only organization that can get permission to visit both sides holding prisoners of war. Ukraine grants access to places of detention almost every two weeks, while Russia blocks all requests," Banda Agency says.
Kyiv recently hosted an action, "Don't be silent! Captivity Kills!" in support of the defenders of Mariupol, who are currently in Russian captivity.
