Latest news with #CoordinationHeadquartersfortheTreatmentofPrisonersofWar
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine secures release of POWs from units excluded from all previous swaps
As part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) reported on May 26. "The return of fighters from these units has long been blocked by the Russian side for various reasons," the agency said in a statement, describing the outcome as a significant breakthrough. Of the 1,000 Ukrainian service members repatriated, over 300 had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. All those returned were soldiers or sergeants, many of whom had fought in the most intense areas of the front line, the agency added. The exchange — agreed during the May 16 peace talks in Istanbul — was carried out in three phases between May 23 and 25. It marked the largest single prisoner swap during the war and the only concrete result from the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in nearly three years. The high-profile operation has drawn a mix of relief and frustration in Ukraine. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the 1st Azov Corps, criticized the exchange as a "mockery," noting that no Azov fighters were included in the release. Thousands of civilians and military families have spent two years campaigning for the release of Azov servicemen captured during the siege of Mariupol in 2022. The omission has sparked renewed anger among Ukrainians who view Azovstal defenders as national heroes. The then Azov Brigade's last stand at the Azovstal steel plant is widely credited with delaying Russia's early advance, giving Ukraine time to mobilize and secure international military support. Andrii Yusov, military intelligence spokesperson and deputy head of Ukraine's POW Coordination Headquarters, emphasized that Kyiv had no influence over which individuals Russia chose to release during the process. "We could not influence the list. Russia handed over who it was ready to hand over, and Ukraine as well," Yusov said on May 26. While Ukraine has previously conducted smaller prisoner exchanges, often with the involvement of third-party mediators, the Istanbul-negotiated swap was unprecedented in scale and complexity. Kyiv has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Moscow has so far rejected the proposal. Read also: Chaos to coordination: The evolution of POW swaps in the Russia-Ukraine war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We could not influence the list' — Ukraine reacts to reported inclusion of alleged defector in prisoner swap with Russia
Ukraine could not influence who Russia decided to release in the recent 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, said Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), in comments for Suspilne published on May 26. The statement came in reaction to claims that Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia, was released by Moscow during the second phase of the prisoner exchange on May 24. Multiple media outlets recorded a man resembling Taranenko during the swap. Taranenko surrendered to Russian proxy forces in Donetsk Oblast in 2021 and was accused of seeking to defect to Russia's side and harm his fellow Ukrainian soldiers. He then appeared in the Russian media in what was described as staged propaganda stunts. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, and Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the accusations. Ukrainian investigators are working to identify Taranenko and verify the accusations, Yusov told Suspilne, adding that "law enforcement agencies will take an appropriate response" if the claims are confirmed. Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war. The Russian media reported that a man named "Anatolii Taranenko" was released in the exchange, while Ukraine has not published the official lists. "We could not influence the list. Russia handed over who it was ready to hand over, and Ukraine as well," Yusov explained, adding that the exchange was arranged in a short time frame. The swap was the only tangible result of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on May 16, the first such negotiations in three years. The exchange, which mostly included military captives, was carried out in three phases between May 23 and 25. Kyiv and Moscow have previously held a number of prisoner exchanges during the full-scale war, which were more limited in scope and mediated by third-party countries. "Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working under extremely difficult conditions amid the full-scale invasion, and the Mariupol garrison remains one of the top priorities for repatriation," Yusov said last week. Read also: Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's POW authority explains why Azov troops and prisoners held since 2014 were not freed in latest swap
Andrii Yusov, Deputy Head of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, has explained why Azov Brigade soldiers and Ukrainians held captive since 2014 were not among those released in the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Source: Yusov in a comment to journalists, as reported by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Details: Yusov stated that the exchange was based on "mutual lists", with the Russian side determining whom it was ready to hand over to Ukraine, and Ukraine likewise forming its own list. Quote: "But every person held in Russian captivity must be brought back. Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working in extremely difficult conditions due to the full-scale invasion and the Mariupol garrison remains one of our top priorities for repatriation." More details: Yusov also noted that Russia ignores requests to exchange Ukrainians who have been held since the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014, or outright refuses to include them. Quote: "They [the Russians – ed.] say, 'This is not a prisoner of war and cannot be swapped in the exchange'. So there are many refusals, but the fact remains. This is a violation of international humanitarian law, yet another crime against humanity. And every one of them must come back home." Background: On Friday 23 May, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, resulting in the return of 390 Ukrainians – 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. On Saturday, a further 307 Ukrainian defenders, all men of private and sergeant rank, were brought back from Russian captivity. On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia completed the third phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, liberating another 303 Ukrainian defenders. Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, has stated that not a single Azov fighter was included in the recent three-day prisoner exchange with Russia. He said he does not believe the Ukrainian authorities are interested in bringing them back. Journalist Stanislav Aseyev has stated that none of the civilians who have been held in Russian captivity for eight years were among those released in the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Third part of 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap completed – over 300 POWs brought back to Ukraine
On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia carried out the third part of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange which was agreed upon in Türkiye. A total of 303 Ukrainian defenders have been released from Russian captivity. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Quote from Zelenskyy: "Soldiers from our Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service and State Transport Special Service are returning home." Details: The Coordination Headquarters added that those released include servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular the Navy, Air Force, Air Assault Forces and Territorial Defence Forces, as well as personnel from the National Guard, State Border Guard Service and the State Transport Special Service, including 70 defenders of Mariupol. All those released are men, ranked as privates and sergeants. They had been defending Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy and Chernihiv brought back from Russian captivity Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War For reference: The three-day thousand-for-thousand swap is the 65th prisoner exchange since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since March 2022, 5,757 Ukrainian citizens have been freed through negotiations and exchanges coordinated by the Coordination Headquarters. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine brings back 390 people from captivity as first part of large exchange with Russia
Ukraine and Russia have conducted the first part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange agreement, which resulted in the return of 390 people. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement, Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Quote: "The first part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange agreement has been implemented. This agreement was reached at the meeting in Türkiye, and it is important to implement it in full. Today we have 390 people. We expect the exchange to continue on Saturday and Sunday." Details: Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that 270 service members and 120 civilians have been returned to Russia as part of the exchange. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters reported that 270 soldiers and 120 civilians were released from captivity. Quote: "A total of 270 defenders are returning home – these are service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Navy, Airborne Forces, the Territorial Defence Forces, as well as the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine... Among those liberated today are 3 women and 387 men". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
