ICRC visits detention sites in Russian-occupied Donetsk and Horlivka
Representatives of the Red Cross managed to visit places of detention of prisoners in Donetsk and Horlivka (Photo:International Committee of the Red Cross)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives have managed to visit detention centers in Russian-occupied Donetsk and Horlivka over the last month, a Ukrainian government official said at a meeting with families of Azov Assault Brigade members.
A representative of the Cabinet’s Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War told the families that ICRC representatives continue to work to meet with prisoners in Luhansk Oblast, a report on the meeting posted on Telegram on March 11 reads.
The government official noted that the Ukrainian side does not know where all Azov prisoners are detained because they were moved to different camps and kept isolated from other Ukrainian prisoners following the terrorist attack in the village of Olenivka in Donetsk Oblast on July 29, 2022. Because of this, prisoners who have returned to Ukraine are unable to provide more information on the Azov fighters.
At the end of 2022, more than 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen were in Russian captivity.
Previously, officials in Kyiv criticized the activity of the ICRC in Ukraine because of its inability to access the detention centers in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
The organization was also criticized for its inaction in investigating the alleged mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Azov fighters, at the detention center in Olenivka.
Ukrainian intelligence says that Russia does not allow international organizations to participate in prisoner exchanges.
In December 2022, representatives of the ICRC were finally able to get access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners on Russian territory.
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