Prisoner exchange: Russia returns 15 Ukrainian convicts and those already slated for Deportation
It is noted that Russia returned 15 prisoners to Ukraine who were serving sentences in territories captured by Russian forces at the time of the invasion.
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Prisoner exchange on May 23. Illustrative photo / © Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / © Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
During the latest exchange in the «1,000 for 1,000» format, Russia returned at least 15 convicts to Ukraine who, at the start of the full-scale invasion, were held in penal colonies in the now-occupied territories of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions and were forcibly deported to Russia.
This was reported by Hanna Skrypka, a legal advisor for the organization «Protection of Prisoners in Ukraine», as cited by «Suspilne».
According to her, when Russian forces retreated from Kherson and Mykolaiv regions in November 2022, they forcibly removed about 1,800 Ukrainian prisoners. These individuals were transferred to penal colonies in other occupied Ukrainian territories (likely Crimea and Donbas) and to Russia.
Over the past two years, approximately 380 of these 1,800 prisoners have been returned to Ukraine.
Hanna Skrypka stated that at least 15 such convicts were returned to Ukraine on May 23 during a prisoner exchange. The time they spent in Russia was credited toward their sentences. According to her, three of them were sent to pre-trial detention centers to continue serving their sentences, while the rest had completed their terms and are now free.
Russia released civilians it already planned to deport
According to the Russian opposition outlet «Agentsvo», as part of the exchange, Russia released individuals it was already preparing to deport to Ukraine.
Mykhailo Savva, an expert from the «Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties», said that among the released civilians were two categories of people: former Ukrainian prisoners who were taken to Russia and Ukrainian citizens who had lived in Russia for a long time and were subject to court-ordered deportation.
«Russia did not release victims of the war, meaning civilians who were illegally deprived of their freedom, ” the human rights advocate said.
According to his information, between 7,000 and 16,000 peaceful Ukrainians accused of «opposing the special military operation» remain in Russian prisons.
«It’s impossible to provide a precise number because Russia conceals information about these people. They are not allowed access to lawyers or anyone else. Another 300 individuals are being held based on court rulings — either already sentenced or under official investigation, ” Savva added.
Another human rights advocate involved in protecting Ukrainian prisoners confirmed to «Agentsvo» that all civilians released by Moscow were individuals subject to deportation or expulsion orders to Ukraine.
«Mostly, these are former Ukrainian convicts who were taken to Russia. After serving their sentences, they ended up in Temporary Detention Centers for Foreigners. Many have been held there for a long time because there is no quick deportation process, ” the advocate said.