As many as 177 Ukrainian POWs die in Russian captivity since start of war

As many as 177 Ukrainian POWs die in Russian captivity since start of war

Ukrinform
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, at least 177 Ukrainian prisoners of war have died in Russian captivity.

This was reported by Viktoria Tsymbaliuk, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, in an interview with Politico, as cited by Ukrinform.

Tsymbaliuk noted that the actual number of deaths in Russian prisons is likely much higher due to the lack of international oversight.

"This is the number we currently have. But of course, not all the bodies are returned and many are not even confirmed by Russia as being in captivity," she said.

Read also: Execution of 16 POWs: Russians kill soldiers from two Ukrainian units

Approximately 3,600 Ukrainian prisoners of war and deported citizens have been returned through exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv. However, thousands of POWs remain in Russian captivity.

"The longer they stay in Russian prisons, the closer they are to death," Tsymbaliuk warned.

She added that Russia refuses to confirm the capture or the whereabouts of thousands of Ukrainian prisoners.

As Ukrinform previously reported, 16 Ukrainian POWs were executed by Russian forces in the Pokrovsk sector; they were servicemen from two Ukrainian Armed Forces units.

While citing and using any materials on the Internet, links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory. In addition, citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet. Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No. 270/96-VR of July 3, 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No. 2849-Х of March 31, 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice.

© 2015-2024 Ukrinform. All rights reserved.

Extended searchHide extended search
By period:
-