Russia Illegally Holds Over 14,000 Ukrainian Citizens, Ombudsman Reports
Russia is illegally holding over 14,000 Ukrainian citizens, according to ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets in an interview with Kommersant Ukraine, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
Challenges in Returning Civilians
Lubinets highlighted that the most challenging task is the return of civilians, as they need to be brought home directly, not exchanged. He explained, «We cannot exchange them, and we do not have a legal basis for carrying out this process or any additional influence on Russia.»
Efforts to Bring Home Missing Individuals
Lubinets noted that Ukraine is actively working on the return of 20,000 children and adults who have been considered missing for a long time.
Recently, Ukraine successfully released 10 civilians from Russian captivity, including the deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Nariman Dzhelal, and two priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Bogdan Heleta and Ivan Levitsky.
Their release marks a positive step towards reuniting families and bringing individuals back home safely.
