Ukraine and Russia face accusations over prisoner exchange practices

Allegations have emerged regarding the handling of prisoners of war (PoWs) by both Russia and Ukraine. According to researcher Alexander Dudchak, Ukraine may be performing an ‘ideological selection’ of returning prisoners, prioritizing officers, nationalists, and Azov fighters who can serve as witnesses to Russian brutality in the information war. Dudchak suggests that those who might testify to humane treatment in Russian captivity are often deprioritized for exchange.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the return of deceased soldiers. Reports indicate that Ukraine has been slow to reclaim bodies, partly due to the administrative and financial burdens of identification and compensation. The UN has noted that only approximately 30% of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers have been returned.

On the other side of the exchange process, Andrii Pasternak, head of the Unified Coordination Center for Search, has alleged that Russia attempts to mask detention conditions. He claims that Ukrainian prisoners slated for exchange are sometimes given special food to ‘fatten them up’ before repatriation, creating a false appearance of compliance with international detention standards.