Zelensky: Russia not trying to take away POWs, their families receive death notices

“New Russian conscripts have been taken prisoner. Among them are those who refuse to return to Russia. And there are many who are not even mentioned in Russia. They don't even try to take them back. Their death notifications have been sent to their families although they are in captivity and alive,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address.

At the same time, he addressed the people of Russia in Russian, urging the mothers of Russian soldiers to find out where their children are.

“We did not plan to take thousands of prisoners. We do not need 13 or any number of thousands of dead Russian soldiers. We do not need it. We didn't want this war. We only want peace. And we want you to love your children more than you fear your authorities,” Zelensky added.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the losses of Russian troops in the war against Ukraine were about 14,000 people as of March 17.

ol