In 2022, Ukraine’s authorities liberated 1,596 people from Russian captivity, Ukraine’s Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories reports.
Among the people liberated in 2022, there are 1,464 servicemen and 132 civilians, the ministry clarifies.
“Prisoner swaps took place due to joint efforts of the Office of the President, Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence, Security Service of Ukraine, and Ministry of Reintegration,” the ministry says in a statement.
The last prisoner swap of 2022 took place on 31 December. Russia’s Defence Ministry reported the return of 82 soldiers following negotiations with Ukraine, while 140 people were returned to Ukraine, according to Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Capturing civilians is a war crime according to the Geneva Conventions. The Fourth Geneva Convention states that it is unacceptable to take individuals not partaking in a war prisoner. According to the estimates of the Agora human rights group, thousands of Ukrainians civilians are currently held in captivity in Russia, their legal rights are not being respected.
