Russia's crimes in Ukraine cannot go unpunished. Detention of our civilians in Russian prisons is one of the most egregious crimes and acts of terrorism, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Irina Vereshchuk is convinced.

At a meeting with the International Criminal Court representatives, she said that the invaders had captured Ukrainian civilians: journalists, activists, volunteers, opinion leaders, priests - and tortured them. Every second prisoner is a woman.

There is already numerous evidence of inhuman treatment of them by the punitive authorities of the Russian Federation, including the testimony of already released people.

At the same time, the invaders are in no hurry to hand them over to the Ukrainian side - "the process is very slow and under a lot of pressure", said Iryna Vereshchuk.

She called on the international community to help stop the terror of Russia as soon as possible and release Ukrainian civilians.