In a comment to Ukrainian TV broadcasters, Lubinets said the Russian side initiated the conversation.
“Regarding communication with the Russian side: yes, there was a conversation (initiated by Moskalkova),” he said.
“I hope that, despite the public statements by Russian media claiming that the Russians have supposedly decided to suspend [POW] exchanges... We are currently exchanging information.”
“I also inform the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] and the UN that the rights of Russian POWs are protected; we are monitoring this situation, and at any time, Ukraine is ready to continue the exchange processes based on the Geneva Convention.”
The ombudsman added that the situation in Kursk Oblast has forced Russia to take initiative in the matter of prisoner exchanges, something it had not done previously.