REPORTING
Delving into the heart of a poignant prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia
In Ukraine, in recent days, the 51st exchange of prisoners of war took place between kyiv and Moscow since the start of the Russian invasion almost two years ago. On Thursday February 8, one hundred Ukrainian prisoners were released, as well as one hundred Russian prisoners. A delicate process, often kept secret, which RFI was able to witness.
Former Ukrainian prisoners of war after a prisoner exchange, amid Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, January 31, 2024. Photo taken and published by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service (Illustrative image) . AFP - HANDOUT
By: Stéphane Siohan Follow
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With our correspondent in kyiv,
For an exchange of prisoners, there are firstly long weeks of negotiations. They take place on the one hand between a coordination group and military intelligence, on the Ukrainian side, and on the other, with the Russian army. This is despite the fact that very often there is intermediation
via
a third country, for example Turkey or the United Arab Emirates.
The two parties agree on a number of prisoners, their rank, their unit, and then, a few hours before the exchange, the prisoners are transported and gathered not far from the Russian-Ukrainian border. In Ukraine, it happens somewhere between Sumy and Kharkiv. A truce of a few hours is arranged, and buses, accompanied by ambulances, go to pick up the prisoners, who, most of the time, were informed of their release a few hours before the exchange.
Ukrainian prisoners tortured
Our correspondent went to the scene of an exchange between Ukraine and Russia, he was able to witness the arrival of
100 Ukrainian prisoners
. Most of them were taken prisoner after the siege of Mariupol. So they had been in the penal colony for 21 months. Initially, the Ukrainian prisoners encountered that day reported relatively good treatment. They do not bear notable traces of mistreatment, but they are clearly in emotional and psychological shock, knowing that they have had no contact with their family, with the outside world, throughout their detention.
Very quickly, after the joy of liberation, the first cigarettes, the hugs, the soldiers were transported to the regional hospital of Sumy. And there, a chief doctor at the hospital paints a completely different picture. According to him, a large majority of released Ukrainian prisoners were tortured during their detention. They present with very serious pathologies such as unresolved fractures, suppurating wounds, ulcers that are only discovered during clinical examination.
According to statistics from the Ukrainian Coordination of Prisoners of War, 90% of the 3,000 prisoners released in two years show traces of torture and ill-treatment.
Russian prisoners sent back to the front
For Russian prisoners of war, what will happen when they return to Russia? Our correspondent was able to spend half an hour on a bus loaded with Russian prisoners. They were very clearly not yet free in their movements and speech, but their fate is clearly different from that of the Ukrainian prisoners. For Ukrainian prisoners who return to their country, there is medical and social care, then the prisoners will reunite with their families. They are welcomed by society. On the Russian side, it seems that this is not the case at all.
The Russian prisoners interviewed say that they no longer want to fight, that they understand that they have been manipulated by propaganda to come to Ukraine and that they want to return home. But in reality, what is happening is that after interrogation by Russian security services, a large number of released prisoners are sent straight back to the front to fight.
In this context, the Ukrainian authorities have put in place a system. They distribute to the prisoners a small business card, with contacts, to allow them to go directly, if they were to return to the front.
Also read: Russian Il-76 military plane crashes with 65 Ukrainian prisoners on board, says Moscow
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