Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has pointed out the absence of a unified mechanism for the return of Ukrainian civilians from Russian captivity. During a recent address, he expressed concerns over the ongoing plight of journalists held by Russia, noting that the aggressor country has little interest in their release due to the potential for these journalists to document and expose war crimes.
Lubinets emphasized that while there have been developments and new proposals regarding the release of civilians, it is premature to discuss a universal mechanism that would apply in all cases. He highlighted the harsh conditions faced by Ukrainian journalists in captivity, some of whom are reportedly subjected to torture.
Information about the conditions of those imprisoned is gathered through debriefings of released military personnel and civilians, according to the Ombudsman. Furthermore, Maxim Hapiyenko, Deputy Head of the Unified Center and representative of the Security Service of Ukraine, revealed that a separate negotiating group is dedicated to addressing the situation of journalists.
Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, declared that journalists are considered a “priority category for return,” but the process heavily relies on Russia’s stance. The discussion also tackled the challenges in documenting crimes against journalists, citing limited access to information about detention sites and the complexity of identifying individuals responsible for illegal imprisonment and abuse.
As of October 29, there are currently 45 Ukrainian journalists and media activists confirmed to be in Russian captivity, including 33 confirmed cases and seven missing persons, as reported by the Coordination Headquarters. In August, Lubinets had previously stated that Ukraine was in negotiations with Russia to secure the release of 28 journalists and media representatives on a separate list.
