More than 3.5 thousand citizens have been returned from captivity: the DIU tells how the enemy blocks the return of Ukrainians

As of December 28, 3,658 Ukrainians have been released from captivity in 48 exchanges, including 10 exchanges this year alone. This was stated by a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, in an interview with a Ukrainian TV channel, UNN reports.

Details

”3,658 Ukrainian citizens have already returned during these 48 exchanges during the full-scale invasion, 10 of which took place this year. This is a work in progress. We still need to return many more. This is a complicated process. We are dealing with the enemy and the aggressor state, which often ignores international law and the Geneva Conventions,” said Andriy Yusov.

Yusov emphasized that Ukraine continues to make every effort to return all of its citizens, but cooperation with international institutions, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, is complicated by Russia's blockade.

Among the initiatives blocked by the enemy is the creation of mixed medical commissions to facilitate the return of seriously ill and severely wounded. However, even in such circumstances, Ukraine does not stop working on the release of prisoners.

“Everyone has to return - both prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians,” Yusov emphasized.

Recall

More than 150 places where Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are held have been identified in the Russian Federation and the occupied territories. The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War is developing a mechanism to help return these people.