The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, reported that about 40% of those returned from captivity were individuals who had been classified as missing persons under special circumstances. He shared this information on Telegram.
Lubinets mentioned that he held a large meeting today with the families of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing defenders, attended by around three hundred people. Representatives from the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the SSU Joint Center, the Pension Fund, the Ministry of Defense's Social Security Department, the National Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine answered questions.
Lubinets spoke about the communication regarding the return of prisoners of war with the Russian Human Rights Commissioner and the involvement of representatives from third countries. They also addressed questions about the repatriation of bodies, the interaction between government bodies concerning DNA testing, and payments for the families of fallen defenders.
Family members inquired about the specifics of searching for missing persons.
Lubinets emphasized that there is no legal distinction between those classified as missing persons and those with prisoner of war status:
“About 40% of those returned from captivity were individuals who had been classified as missing persons under special circumstances and were not confirmed by the ICRC,” Lubinets noted.
He added that the Ombudsman’s Office is making every effort daily to return every person.
“Let us not forget that the aggressor violates the laws and customs of war, the Geneva Conventions, and international humanitarian law,” Lubinets concluded.
