Russia and Ukraine have exchanged a list of 31 civilians held by each side for a potential swap, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said on Monday.
Moskalkova claimed Ukraine continues to hold 31 residents of Russia’s southwestern Kursk region, which briefly came under Ukrainian occupation during a cross-border incursion last August.
According to the state-run news agency TASS, Moskalkova said she had sent authorities in Kyiv the list of Kursk civilians and received a list of 31 Ukrainian civilians for a “mutual repatriation without any conditions.”
“We’ve agreed with [Ukrainian human rights ombudsman] Dmytro Lubinets on talks this week to determine a specific date [for the exchange],” she was quoted as saying.
There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine about the discussions for a possible exchange.
Moskalkova has accused Ukrainian forces of forcibly moving more than 1,000 Kursk residents before Russian troops regained control of the region earlier this year.
Relatives of missing residents in Kursk previously estimated that up to 3,000 people were caught in the occupied areas. Authorities initially said 500 were unaccounted for but later raised the number to more than 1,100.
Moskalkova’s announcement came days after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 84 prisoners each. Both sides have carried out a series of large-scale swaps following direct peace talks in Istanbul in May and June.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
