Despite Ukraine's operation in Kursk region, POW exchange in "all for all" format unlikely in near future – Ombudsman Lubinets
Telegram / Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets
Although Ukrainian forces have conducted an operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation and replenished the exchange fund, Ukrainians should not anticipate an exchange of prisoners in the "all for all" format soon.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, announced this on Radio Svoboda.
The ombudsman noted that the Ukrainian side is constantly taking the initiative to carry out large prisoner exchanges, including "all-for-all" exchanges. However, he does not believe that such a large-scale exchange will take place in the near future.
Despite this, the Ukrainian team continues to do everything possible to ensure that large prisoner exchanges take place. A large team of the Coordination Headquarters participates in this process, and Lubinets himself actively deals with this issue on a daily basis.
"Constantly, the Ukrainian side takes the initiative of conducting large-scale exchanges, including several times through intermediaries we took the initiative of conducting "all-for-all" exchanges.
Do I believe that an all-for-all exchange could happen shortly? No, I don't believe it. Do I believe the Ukrainian side is doing everything possible to ensure that large exchanges occur? Yes, a large team from the coordination headquarters is engaged in this. I personally am in a daily routine," the ombudsman emphasized.
The involvement of Ukraine's military in the Kursk region of Russia has greatly improved the situation by facilitating the return of Ukrainian citizens from both Russian territory and the occupied areas of Ukraine.
Lubinets noted that the Ukrainian side seeks to use the situation to conclude fair exchange agreements, particularly the principles of conducting exchange processes.
Lubinets did not specify whether the Russian side has already provided lists of people whom it wants to return as part of the exchange process, referring to the sensitivity of exchange agreements. However, he added that he understands the public's need to be informed about the progress of the arrangements.
According to the commissioner, that is why it was decided at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky to create a public council on prisoner exchanges so that families of prisoners and heads of public organizations could be involved in these processes and receive certain information.
According to the ombudsman, observing the principle of fairness in the exchange process is essential.
"Whoever gets captured earlier gets out earlier," he noted.
Lubinets emphasized that Ukraine has lists of prisoners of war and civilian hostages who were captured even before the start of the full-scale invasion in 2014, as well as Mariupol defenders who have been held captive for more than two years.
"We have lists of prisoners of war and civilian hostages who were captured by the Russians even before the start of the full-scale invasion – since 2014; we have defenders of Mariupol who have been in captivity for more than two years.
Among them are even those who, after verification and confirmation by the International Committee of the Red Cross, were wounded in captivity, which is nonsense from the point of view of international humanitarian law," the official emphasized.
For reference:
Ukraine plans to expand the negotiating group responsible for preparing prisoner exchanges. Six additional organizations will join.
On August 15, Vasyl Maliuk, the head of Ukraine's Security Service, announced that the negotiation group responsible for exchanges on behalf of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War will include representatives from various agencies, such as the Security Service, Ministry of Defense's Main Intelligence Directorate, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Office of the Ombudsman.
The head of Ukraine's intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, mentioned that a Public Council is being established at the Coordination Headquarters. He emphasized that special consideration will be given to women, the seriously ill, and the seriously injured during the negotiations.
It's worth mentioning that on August 14, in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces captured over a hundred Russian soldiers when the enemy unit decided to surrender because their leadership had abandoned them.
