Russia holding about 700 Ukrainian POWs

About 700 Ukrainian servicemen and more than a thousand civilians currently remain in Russian captivity.

That’s according to Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, who spoke on national television, Ukrinform reports.

"More than a thousand civilians have been captured by the Russians, including more than 500 women. We will not exchange any military for civilians, as this is prohibited by the Geneva Convention. We demand the unconditional release of our civilians. As for the number of POWs, we have an approximate parity: we have about 700 of their prisoners of war and they have about 700 of our soldiers," Vereshchuk said.

The deputy prime minister emphasizes that the Russians do not fully comply with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners. The main goal of Ukrainians in captivity is to survive.

Moreover, Vereshchuk said, Russians swap prisoners selectively and take no account of the lists drawn by the Ukrainian side. Nevertheless, the official calls on all relatives of POWs to remain patient and strong: Ukraine is working to have everyone released.

As reported, on Saturday, April 16, the work of nine humanitarian corridors was agreed in the warzones.