Ukraine Successfully Repatriates Over 5,700 Citizens from Captivity, Including Nearly 300 Civilians: Details on Kidnappings and Systematic Human Rights Violations
Since the start of the full-scale Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine has carried out over 65 exchange operations with Russia, resulting in the return of more than 5,700 Ukrainian citizens. Among them are approximately 300 civilians who were held in enemy captivity. This ongoing, dedicated effort involves Ukrainian authorities and international partners working tirelessly over several years to bring all citizens home. In a recent press conference and through his official Telegram channel, Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets shared insights into these processes, including reported cases of the kidnapping of children, systemic violations of detainees’ rights—including brutal executions—and pressure on families of prisoners. Lubinets emphasized that the challenge goes beyond mere return; it involves documenting and counteracting the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, with estimates indicating that over 1.5 million children could have been forcibly taken into Russia-controlled territories. Many of these children remain missing or are subjected to dangerous fates. Qatar acts as the main intermediary in the child repatriation process, with over 40 countries participating. The procedure, however, is often complicated, as aggressors not only kidnap children but also strip them of their Ukrainian identity by placing them in adoptive families or hiding their data, making it difficult to locate and return them. An even more distressing aspect is the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, where they are forcibly relocated or indoctrinated with hatred of Ukraine. According to Kyiv, at least 1.5 million children may have been taken and deported. Official data is unavailable due to Russia’s secrecy. The elder children—teenagers approaching military age—are sometimes registered for military conscription, further threatening their safety. Regarding detainees, Lubinets reports that as many as 16,000 Ukrainians might be held in Russia. There is no legal mechanism for civilian exchanges, complicating their return. A dedicated database of Ukrainians held captive in Russia exists, but verification has confirmed only about 2,000 individuals; other data remains undisclosed. Russia continues a propaganda campaign claiming Ukraine does not want to recover its citizens. All these efforts are conducted in partnership with Ukrainian authorities, international organizations, and diplomats. The primary focus is on protecting the rights of civilians caught in captivity; however, lacking legal procedures and direct communication channels with Russia hinder progress. Despite these obstacles, Ukraine’s officials persist in seeking the safe return of their citizens, emphasizing that the situation remains urgent and complex, with thousands of Ukrainians potentially still in captivity under questionable circumstances.