More Ukrainian POWs Held in Russia Than Russian POWs in Ukraine: Lantratova
Dragon Media News Desk
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova has said that the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia is higher than the number of Russian prisoners held by Ukraine.
In an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, Lantratova said that although both sides transfer equal numbers of prisoners during exchanges, the overall number of Ukrainian POWs in Russia remains higher. She did not disclose the exact number of prisoners held by either country.
According to Lantratova, 550 Russian servicemen have returned home through several rounds of prisoner exchanges since she assumed office as human rights commissioner. Russia transferred an equal number of Ukrainian prisoners of war during the same period, she said.
Russia and Ukraine are reportedly preparing lists for a new exchange involving military personnel and civilians. Although another exchange could take place in the near future, its date and the number of participants have not been made public.
Lantratova said she remains in regular contact with Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, with communication sometimes taking place daily when necessary.
The two sides have agreed to arrange reciprocal visits to prisoners of war held under each other’s control, deliver letters and parcels from their families, and exchange information concerning missing servicemen.
The Ukrainian side has also said it does not publicly disclose the exact number of prisoners of war. Lubinets has described this as a deliberate negotiating strategy and said Ukraine has requested access to visit Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia.
Because neither side has released complete official figures, Lantratova’s claim that Russia holds more Ukrainian POWs than Ukraine holds Russian prisoners cannot be independently verified.
Prisoner exchanges nevertheless remain one of the limited areas of continuing humanitarian engagement between Russia and Ukraine.
