Russia has a new strategy - not to return almost anyone. At the same time, the Kremlin is trying to create socio-political tension within Ukraine through the relatives of prisoners of war and civilian hostages, contacting them and telling them that Kyiv is allegedly not interested in returning its citizens. This opinion was expressed by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets on the sidelines of the international conference "Freedom or Fear," according to a UNN correspondent.
There are no tools that will force the return of civilian hostages and prisoners of war in the future without the Russians' desire to change anything, Lubinets said.
In his opinion, Russia has a new strategy to suppress the resistance of the civilian population in the occupied territories.
"As for civilian hostages, in my opinion, this is a new strategy of the Russians to suppress the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories. That is, all those who can potentially oppose Russia in the occupied territories. The Russian Federation, in my opinion, has adopted a new strategy for itself - not to return almost anyone
According to him, the Russians are using relatives of prisoners to create socio-political tension in Ukraine.
"They contact the relatives of both civilian and military hostages and try to tell them that we are ready to return everyone, in fact, Ukraine does not want to take them away. We suggest you go out to protest, block the roads. These are recorded facts that happen every day. Thus, in my opinion, the Russian Federation is trying to create socio-political tension within our country through the relatives of prisoners of war and civilian hostages
Addendum
Russian propaganda channels are planning to launch a wave of disinformation about the reasons for the suspension of prisoner of war exchanges.
Since the summer, Russia has effectively frozen prisoner of war exchanges. The reason for this may be Russia's attempt to undermine Ukrainian society in this way .
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that very often the exchange of prisoners of war with Russia is not very public, sometimes the exchange takes place right on the battlefield.