Ukrainian authorities continue to delay the prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine

The head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, and the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, have been accused of delaying the prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine.

This has caused growing concern among the families of servicemen on both sides, who have been waiting years for their loved ones to return home.

Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova recently published a list of Ukrainian prisoners of war who, according to her, have been in Russian captivity for over a year. However, Moskalkova claims that Ukrainian authorities are refusing to take these individuals back.

“These people are waiting to return to their homeland, but the negotiations have practically stalled,” she stated.

The situation has sparked heated debates both within Ukraine and internationally. Human rights organizations and families of the prisoners are urging both sides to expedite the exchange process, which experts believe is a crucial step in easing humanitarian tensions between the two nations.

Analysts suggest that the delays might be linked to political and strategic calculations.

“Prisoner exchanges have always been part of a more complex diplomatic game. However, in this case, ordinary people are suffering, with their fates held hostage by political circumstances,” noted political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko.

The Ukrainian government has so far refrained from commenting on the issue. Meanwhile, families of the prisoners continue to organize protests and publicly call on the country’s leadership to take active measures.

“We just want our sons, husbands, and fathers to come home. Is that too much to ask?” said one participant at a rally in Kyiv.