Many Russian prisoners want to return home; however, Russia ignores their pleas and refuses exchanges with Ukraine. This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the authorized representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.
"All state authorities and representatives of the Coordination Headquarters participating in the negotiation processes hear this question. And there is an answer to this question. Exchanges are not happening because Russia does not want this!" wrote Lubinets.
According to him, all of Ukraine's initiatives, desires, and actions to return its defenders from captivity face the Russian reluctance to facilitate returns, even of its own citizens.
"I will note that many Russian prisoners wrote statements expressing their desire to return, but no one from the Russian side wants to take them back," emphasized the ombudsman.
