Portal Ukraine Kyiv February 26, 2024
It is unclear exactly how many Ukrainian citizens are being held in Russian captivity, but Ukraine and its partners must do everything they can to return them all to their homes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this while addressing the international platform for the release of civilians illegally detained by Russia on the 10th anniversary of resistance to occupation.
“No one can say exactly how many of our citizens – children, adults, soldiers and civilians – are held in Russian captivity, deported, detained in camps, how many of our people are detained in the prisons of the terrorist state. But each of us can and should speak precisely and concretely. We have to do everything we can to return all these people to their homes, to Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
The Head of State stressed that Putin’s return from Russia to Ukraine is a return from the grip of death.
“Everyone has seen how our people take care of Russian families, after those terrible violations. Everyone knows what atrocities our people are talking about. The world knows with what cruelty Russia is trying to hide the truth from captured Ukrainians and teach children stolen from Ukraine to hate their homeland.”
He noted that the longer our people remain in Russian captivity, the more difficult it will be for them to return to normal life.
Zelensky stressed, “We must do everything possible and impossible until this point of our peace formula is implemented, that is, the return of all prisoners and deportees.”
The President thanked all Ukrainian officials and agencies working for the return of Ukrainians, and every international mediator – governments and leaders.
He stressed that it is very important not to forget anyone and locate everyone: military personnel, civilians, deported children, political prisoners in Crimea, deported families – everyone must be found and returned.
Zelensky noted that it is absolutely necessary to bring Russia, every war criminal and everyone involved in the deportation of Ukrainians and the abuse of prisoners to justice.
The Head of State added that important legal steps have already been taken by the International Criminal Court, along with joint work with other countries and international organizations that provide assistance to this end.
