National Information Bureau has been set up in Ukraine to deal with issues concerning Ukrainian Armed Forces military personnel and the invaders

Kateryna Tyshchenko - Thursday, 17 March 2022, 22:44

Ukraine has established the National Information Bureau to collect and systematise the information on Ukrainians who died, went missing or were taken prisoner, as well as on captured and killed invaders.

Source: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk, at a briefing on Thursday, 17 March.

Verbatim: "Ukraine has set up the National Information Bureau in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law. This decision was made today at a government meeting and approved by the appropriate order."

"The key goal of the National Information Bureau is to collect, by all means necessary, and to summarise data on Ukrainian prisoners of war, dead or missing people, and people illegally detained by the Russian Federation, including civilians."

"In addition, the losses of the invaders’ personnel already exceed 14 thousand people, according to official data obtained by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Our defence forces have been capturing those who have illegally invaded our territory every day since 24 February this year. Therefore, we will also set up lists of both the dead and prisoners. Their families will know where their husbands, children and brothers were sent by the Russian authorities."

"In the future, we will create an exchange fund of sorts and we will provide this information to the opposite party with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross structures that will function as an impartial mediator."

Details: The Deputy Prime Minister explained that the National Information Bureau will act in accordance with international humanitarian law, Article 122 of the Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and Article 136 of the Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

"Given that Ukraine is one of the parties in this war, we have an obligation to behave this way. We are a civilised country and we adhere to international norms," Iryna Vereshchuk said.

The National Information Bureau will be located within the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.

Iryna Vereshchuk said that the National Information Bureau has launched a hotline at 21:00 on Thursday, 17 March: 1648 and 044-287-81-65 for the initial collection of information and  communication with victims. The line will also function in messenger services.