Red Cross has no access to Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity

Diana Krechetova – Monday, 4 April 2022

The International Committee of the Red Cross does not have access to the Ukrainian soldiers who have been captured by the Russian Federation.

Source: Gerard Pontrandolfi, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representative in Kyiv, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia

According to Pontrandolfi: "We have received lists [of prisoners], which are compulsory according to international humanitarian law. We want to have access to these people. And we have made some progress. But if you ask me whether we have access to both sides – no.

They [the Ukrainian prisoners of war] are people, and we must have an opportunity to visit them. Sending me sheets of paper with their names is a good beginning, but it is not enough."

Details: The ICRC representative in Kyiv also commented on the possibility of gaining access to prisoners of war on both the Ukrainian and the Russian sides: "Both sides said that we have opportunities to see them [the prisoners]. But I don’t believe in words. I believe in facts. They have to give [ICRC] access to these people."

Meanwhile, the Red Cross humanitarian organisation continues to call the war in Ukraine a "conflict."

Background: On 1 April, the Ukrainian government conducted a prisoner exchange in the "86 for 86" format. Later on, Ukrainska Pravda published a list of imprisoned Russian troops.