Russia still refusing to go for all-for-all POW swap - Ombudsperson
The all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war does not suit Russia yet, but the Ukrainian authorities are working to resolve the issue.
That’s according to Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, who spoke in an interview with Ukrinform.
"The Ukrainian authorities really offer the Russian Federation a great exchange – all for all. This does not suit the Russian Federation yet. But we are working on it. Do plans change often? These are the details. And I can't reveal them, just so as not to harm the swaps. The only thing I can say is that the process is very difficult because approaches and conditions are changing (on the part of the Russians - ed.), anything is happening in order not to make our work any easier," he said.
According to the Ombudsperson, any exchange is a complicated procedure.
"But the swaps are taking place, which means that we are doing a good job. When our public sees the results of our efforts, it is an indicator that we are coping with our work. Is it 100 percent effective? I'm sure not everyone is happy, including us. We will be satisfied when we return everyone," said Lubinets.
The commissioner noted that as far as he knows, after each exchange, criticism of the Ukrainian authorities increases. In particular, this concerns the fact that some people were not returned, or that some persons were not mentioned, or that the Ukrainian authorities allegedly don’t deal with civilians given their small numbers in captivity, he said.
"And I explain to everyone that we address everything. I accept criticism in general quite normally, but I do not accept criticism in the sense that someone claims the Ukrainian government has forgotten about its people, that it does not deal with anyone, that it does nothing. Sorry, that's exactly what we do. But we are definitely doing it as quietly and calmly as possible so that we achieve a result," the ombudsman explained.
According to Lubinets, currently the total number of Ukrainian heroes who have been liberated amounts to more than 800. The official said that this is definitely not the figure on which the Ukrainian authorities will stop.
"As long as at least one hero or heroine remains in captivity, at least one civilian hostage or political prisoner remains in Russia’s torture chambers, we will continue to do our job and ensure that our people return home," he clarified.
According to Lubinets, all citizens of Ukraine who returned from Russian captivity on September 21 are receiving all the necessary assistance – both medical and psychological –at the government expense.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, since the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has conducted two dozen POW swaps with Russia, liberating more than 800 soldiers and civilians from captivity.