2023-09-29 04:47:53
Ukraine strives to present its treatment of captured Russian soldiers as humane, in contrast to that of Moscow. “The conditions of detention of prisoners comply with the Geneva Conventions,” assured the Ukrainian administration during a press visit.
Lined up one behind the other, heads bowed, prisoners of war walk in a row towards a refectory for lunch. That day, on the plate of these former Russian soldiers: pea soup, kacha (buckwheat porridge typical of the region), beet salad, all accompanied by bread.
This camp for Russian prisoners of war, established last year in western Ukraine, opened its doors to AFP journalists. This center is the last stop before freedom for soldiers regarding to be exchanged.
kyiv strives to present its treatment of Russian prisoners of war as humane, in contrast to that of Moscow. Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian administration responsible for prisoners of war, assures that his country’s soldiers held in Russia live “in much worse conditions” and are “tortured”.
He refuses to communicate the number of prisoners on the site, but journalists on site saw a 96-bed dormitory and a canteen employee said he distributed lunch in three courses, in a room with 120 seats.
2600 Ukrainians exchanged
Since the invasion, 2,598 Ukrainian prisoners have returned to Ukraine during 48 exchanges between Moscow and kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.
But the last one, in August, concerned few prisoners. Petro Yatsenko claims, without wanting to give details, that Russia has interrupted the negotiations. The wait can therefore be long: one of the prisoners claims to have been there for more than a year. The Russians “don’t want to get them back,” says the spokesperson.
Books, telephone and psychologist
Inmates have the right to make calls, but they are listened to. Within the four walls of the camp, a small store sells candy, cigarettes and soda.
On the library shelves, prisoners can find books in Russian, including those by the bestselling American author Dan Brown or the famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Ukraine spends around 240 francs per prisoner every month.
We do not provide them with evening costumes.
Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian administration
Some have suicidal thoughts and receive appropriate psychological support, assures the Ukrainian official. He believes that they have “no reason to flee”. They are “afraid of the outside” in Ukraine and simply want to return home to Russia.
Journalists present were encouraged to speak to a pre-selected group of inmates, who had agreed to be interviewed.
A minute of obligatory silence
During the week, the routine is the same for inmates: wake-up at 6 a.m., breakfast at 6:50 a.m., workshops and other activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., lights out at 10 p.m.
In the camp’s sports hall, there is a portrait of former footballer Andrei Shevchenko and that of Stepan Bandera, an ultranationalist leader and controversial figure whose organization collaborated with Nazi Germany, something the Kremlin never fails to point out. to discredit Kiev.
On boards are written the words of the Ukrainian anthem, played every morning. And every day, soldiers must observe a minute of silence for Ukrainian servicemen who died in combat.
The prisoners “did not come to us as tourists,” says Petro Yatsenko. “They must know where they have set foot and not forget it.”
doe with afp
1695966956
#Ukraine #camp #prisoners #Russians #wait #exchanged #rts.ch
