During captivity, Russia subjected to torture all of the Ukrainian POWs, who have returned to their homeland in the recent prisoner exchange, says Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, as per UkrInform.
On 3 January, Ukraine returned 230 military personnel and civilians in a swap, which was the largest since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This exchange took place after a months-long pause.
Ukraine conducts largest prisoner exchange since Russian full-scale invasion’s start
The last POW exchange occurred in August 2023. Back then, 22 Ukrainian soldiers returned home.
Lubinets says the Ukrainian POWs are feeling exhausted after losing a significant amount of weight amid supposed malnutrition during their captivity and require medical assistance and rehabilitation as all of them were tortured by Russians.
The ombudsman has informed Ukraine is gathering evidence of violence against its soldiers and civilians and will send it to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations.
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