Russia tried to exchange Ukrainian civilians for Russian prisoners of war, which is prohibited by the Geneva Convention. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk in a conversation with the BBC ,
KYIV. UkraineGate , 30 , April , 2022 | War News .
Details
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, quoted by the publication, “Moscow tried to exchange Ukrainian civilians for Russian prisoners of war, which is prohibited by the Geneva Convention.”
Vereshchuk said her office, which is responsible for negotiating the exchange of prisoners, refused and instructed Russia to return the captured Ukrainian civilians.
It is noted that there is growing evidence that Russia forcibly deported large numbers of civilians across the border after invading Ukraine in February.
Vereshchuk said they were used as hostages. “So they took all these hostages – civilians, women, local council workers – to try to use them,” she said.
“We know that there are more than a thousand hostages, including almost 500 women. We know that they are in prisons and pre-trial detention centers in Kursk, Bryansk, Ryazan, Rostov,” Vereshchuk said.
She said that Russia also delayed sending women citizens.
“We are pulling out women almost with pliers. Now we refuse to exchange without women on the list. This is how we are trying to somehow save our women and civilians,” Vereshchuk said.
It is reported that during the last exchange, nine civilians were sent back with serious injuries, including amputations performed in Russia.
“There were people with severe injuries in this exchange – amputated limbs, sepsis and other serious injuries,” Vereshchuk said.
Addition
On April 21, another exchange of prisoners took place. 19 people returned home, including 10 military (including 2 officers) and 9 civilians.
Source: Ukrgate