“Could endanger their lives”: the UN criticized Ukraine for publishing video footage of prisoners of war

The widespread practice in Ukraine of publishing videos of prisoners of war (POWs) violates international humanitarian law.

This is stated in a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

“Exposing individual prisoners of war, including citizens of third countries, may endanger their lives upon return home or negatively affect their families,” the report reads.

The OHCHR documented numerous instances in which images and videos of captured soldiers were published by Ukrainian authorities or appeared in the media. According to the report, international humanitarian law protects POWs from “public curiosity,” meaning their images, interrogation videos, and any other personal information should not be disclosed.

Meanwhile, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova reported that families of Russian soldiers captured during the “special military operation” are being contacted and pressured by callers from Ukraine.

“We receive this information directly from conversations with our returning soldiers and their families about how intense the efforts are from the Ukrainian side,” said Moskalkova.

According to her, the callers try to instill guilt over the soldiers’ participation in the conflict or express fake gratitude, claiming that it is Ukraine that is treating the prisoners well.

“Both claims are false (…) After such propaganda from Kyiv, it often takes effort to reverse the mindset of these [soldiers’ family] members, helping them understand they are the wives and mothers of heroes — courageous men,” the ombudswoman concluded, adding that efforts are currently underway to secure the return of Russian POWs.