Russia claims Ukraine "refused" prisoner exchange: CCD refutes

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the negotiations, claims that the third major prisoner swap has not started allegedly due to "Ukraine's refusal of 1,000 prisoners." However, this is another enemy manipulation.

This was reported by the CCD at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on Telegram.

What the Russian official claimed

Russian media began spreading information alleging that "Kyiv is selectively taking prisoners proposed by Russia for exchange."

Enemy propagandists claim that Ukraine has allegedly already refused 1,000 Armed Forces prisoners. Medinsky made a similar false statement, saying that the third major prisoner swap with Ukraine "has not yet started due to Kyiv’s refusal."

Additionally, a fake "appeal" allegedly from Ukrainian prisoners of war appeared online, claiming that certain individuals were "excluded from exchange lists."

What the CCD says

The CCD debunks Russia’s latest fake, stating that it is a continuation of Russia’s campaign to discredit prisoner swaps.

"Russia continues its information campaign to discredit the prisoner swap process, actively spreading false statements through its officials and propagandists. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating delegation in Istanbul, claimed that the third prisoner exchange was delayed due to Ukraine’s alleged "refusal to take back a thousand of its prisoners." He also accused Ukraine of a "selective approach to exchanges." These claims are untrue. As previously reported, Ukraine insists on the "all for all" principle during prisoner swaps, and every instance of delay is part of Russia’s deliberate campaign to manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in Ukrainian state institutions," the Center emphasizes.