Positive news regarding the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity may emerge before the New Year, but it is also possible that the aggressor might disrupt the agreements.
Ombudsman for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets stated during a telethon that the main mediator in the issue of returning prisoners of war is the United Arab Emirates.
"There is communication, and I really hope that we will have positive news before the New Year. I do not want the Ukrainian public to perceive this information as an announcement. You can never be 100% certain that you can expect agreements from the Russian Federation," the ombudsman said.
According to Lubinets, Russia refuses to cooperate in returning Ukrainian children home. He added that each child's return is a separate operation, which can sometimes be complex and prolonged.
"If we return one child every day, it will take us over 55 years to bring back the verified Ukrainian children as of today. Meanwhile, the Russians continue to deport, remove, and forcibly relocate," the ombudsman expressed indignation.
Lubinets revealed that about 1.5 million children are currently in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, all of whom are at risk of deportation.
Prisoner Exchange
Fighting in the Kursk region and the operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are increasingly prompting Russia to participate more frequently in prisoner exchanges.
WSJ reported that issues with prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine leave thousands of people in a "gray zone."
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that they are ready to exchange 630 Ukrainian prisoners of war.