Red Cross to ensure Ukrainian prisoners of war can contact their families

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will ensure that Ukrainian prisoners of war will be able to exchange letters with their families.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has reported that an agreement was reached during negotiations between the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the National Information Bureau and the ICRC.

Article 71 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War stipulates that "prisoners of war shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards". However, Russia has so far either neglected this right or only partially facilitated its fulfilment.

The ICRC has now pledged to ensure two-way correspondence between Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families. However, only those prisoners of war whose status as such has been confirmed by the ICRC will be allowed to send letters.

The National Information Bureau of Ukraine has developed a set of rules governing correspondence with prisoners of war, available at this link.

"Ukraine fully complies with the Geneva Conventions and provides Russian prisoners of war with opportunities to communicate with their families. As of now, almost 2,000 letters from prisoners of war have been transferred to Ukraine," the Ministry of Defence said.

Previously: The International Committee of the Red Cross explained the reasons why they cannot guarantee the safety of Ukrainian prisoners of war, in particular when it comes to the defenders of Azovstal currently being held in Olenivka.

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