Explaining complex things in simple words: Russia delaying POW swap, protecting Ukraine’s sky, safety at Zaporizhzhia NPP

RUSSIA DELAYING THE PRISONER EXCHANGE PROCESS

Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Moskalkova accused Ukraine of suspending the prisoner exchange process for several months.

▪ Her accusations against the Ukrainian side of “made-up demands,” which allegedly “are constantly changing,” are incomprehensible and groundless. Ukraine is ready for prisoner exchange, both in the “everyone for everyone” format and in other ways.

▪ Kyiv constantly initiates prisoner exchanges: offers came on April 10, on the occasion of Easter and on the occasion of the appeal of the Pope, but Moscow ignores Ukrainian initiatives.

▪ It is Russia that blocks the exchange, the last of which took place on February 8 this year. Moscow also blocked this process in the second half of 2023. As usual, it tried to shift the blame to Ukraine.

▪ Moscow blocks the prisoner exchange processes against the backdrop of numerous violations: Russians torture and execute prisoners, use them as a “human shield” and keep civilians captive.

▪ Russia has not yet provided either proof of the death of Ukrainian PoWs who were allegedly on the downed Il-76 plane on January 24, or the bodies.

PROTECTION OF THE UKRAINIAN SKY

The next package of Swedish military aid to Ukraine includes the ASC 890 radar reconnaissance and control aircraft.

▪ For the first time in the history of cooperation, the partners provided Ukraine with a Western-made military aircraft. We also hope to receive the F-16 jets soon.

▪ The ASC 890 aircraft will significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: it will allow detection of enemy air targets, provide early warning and coordination of air combat.

▪ ASC 890 will be integrated into a single system with F-16 fighter jets, which will receive information from the airborne radar.

▪ The Swedish radar reconnaissance and control aircraft is superior to the Russian counterparts, A-50. What is more, the Defence Forces have already destroyed 2 Russian aircraft of this type.

▪ Strengthening the capabilities of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is vital for our success on the battlefield and for the protection of Ukrainian cities against Russian missile terror.

SAFETY AT ZAPORIZHZHIA NPP

On May 28, a meeting of IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi with the delegation of Rosatom took place in Kaliningrad.

▪ Moscow's attempts to legitimize its appropriation of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant are futile. The IAEA considers the plant an occupied facility owned by Ukraine.

▪ The work of the station has been terminated due to the actions of the occupiers. Today, the facility does not produce electricity.

▪ Due to Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir, the cooling pond of nuclear reactors was dehydrated.

▪ The duration of nuclear fuel, allowed by the manufacturer (Westinghouse Electric Company), in the 4 reactors of the ZNPP is coming to an end.

▪ There is a lack of competent licensed personnel at the station, and insufficient qualifications of the persons engaged by the occupiers to ensure the proper operation of such an object.

▪ As long as the ZNPP is under occupation and has essentially been turned into a military station by Russia, there is a constant threat to nuclear and radiation safety.

▪ Russia must fulfill the provisions of the IAEA resolutions of September 28, 2023, and March 7, 2024, immediately withdraw the troops from the territory of the station, and return the ZNPP under the full control of Ukraine.

▪ The issue of deoccupation of the ZNPP will be one of the key subjects at the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security