Ukraine and Russia have reached a "preliminary settlement" to conduct common prisoner exchanges all year long, specializing in the return of severely ailing and severely wounded prisoners of conflict (POWs), Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets introduced on Jan. 6.
In an interview with the state-run parliamentary broadcaster Rada, Lubinets expressed hope that Russia would honor its dedication.
"I don’t want this to return throughout as an official announcement simply but. However we’ll see if the Russian aspect retains its phrase. In the event that they do, Ukrainian society will discover the systematic nature when it comes to amount, timing, and classes [of prisoners returning home]."
Underneath the revised method for getting ready change lists, precedence will now go to those that are severely injured or critically ailing, adopted by prisoners who’ve been in captivity the longest.
"For the primary time, we managed to ascertain that we’ll create lists based totally on bodily well being," Lubinets added.
In 2024, Ukraine performed 11 prisoner exchanges and secured the return of 356 extra folks than in 2023. Because the begin of the full-scale invasion, 3,956 folks have been launched, together with 1,358 in 2024.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the numbers in his New 12 months video deal with revealed late on Dec. 31.
On Dec. 30, Ukraine efficiently secured the discharge of 189 captives from Russian detention, together with navy personnel and two civilians.
The coordination headquarters described it as one of many largest exchanges because the begin of the full-scale conflict. Amongst these freed had been defenders of Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Energy Plant, Snake Island, and different key entrance traces.
The Kyiv IndependentStanislav Aseyev