Latest Reflections on Prisoner of War Swap
Ukraine receives over a thousand deceased individuals from Russia
In the latest development, Ukraine has taken delivery of over 1200 more bodies as part of an ongoing exchange with Russia. On Monday, a statement was made confirming the receipt of 1245 additional bodies. This exchange follows last week's handover of numerous bodies from Russia, bringing the total number of casualties received by Ukraine to over 6000[1].
As per the agreements forged in Istanbul earlier this month, Ukraine and Russia have been carrying out prisoner of war exchanges. This recent exchange focused primarily on severely injured, gravely ill combatants, as well as young soldiers under the age of 25[2]. Many of the soldiers had been in Russian custody for more than three years and were previously classified as missing[1].
Soldiers returning home following this exchange have participated in combat across regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia[1]. The exchange consisted of military personnel from diverse units such as the navy, ground forces, air force, national guard, border guard service, territorial defense, and special transport service[2].
Istanbul Discussions
The discussions in Istanbul culminated in several mutually agreed-upon points concerning the exchange of prisoners of war[1]:
- Youthful Soldiers: Both sides agreed to swap young soldiers under the age of 25[1][2].
- Injured and Ailing POWs: They pledged to repatriate severely wounded and ailing prisoners of war[1][2].
- Body Repatriation: The agreement included the return of soldiers' bodies[1].
These negotiations formed part of a wider endeavor to tackle the humanitarian aspects of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with the aim of returning those who have been imprisoned or impacted by the conflict[3].
[1] https://www.ntv.de/english/news/more-than-1200-bodies-returned-to-ukraine-after-exchange-t2657484.html[2] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/prisons-and-torture/russia-november-2021-return-prisoners-war-and-casualties-exchange[3] https://www.krym.realty/en/ua-and-ru-to-exchange-prisoners-of-war-and-bodies-of-killed-soldiers-in-turkey-22f779a041a4fa9e25eb533adf2b03b1
- This exchange, as outlined in the Istanbul discussions, includes the repatriation of young soldiers under the age of 25, as well as those who are severely injured or ill, aligning with community and employment policies that prioritize the welfare of individuals.
- The Istanbul discussions are significant in the context of politics and general-news, with a primary focus on the mutual agreement for the return of prisoners of war, including their bodies, accounting for an aspect of international policies regarding warfare and human rights.
