Representatives of Ukraine and Russia have begun negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war as a result of hostilities in the Kursk region.
Points of attention
- Ukraine and Russia have initiated negotiations for the exchange of prisoners following hostilities in the Kursk region.
- The exchange of prisoners can potentially strengthen Ukraine's position in negotiations for the return of Ukrainian citizens held captive by Russia.
- Ukraine aims to create a security belt around its borders, destroy Russian military infrastructure, and safeguard its population amidst Russian aggression.
- Ukrainian military clarifies that they do not plan to occupy Kursk region but rather focus on defensive measures to protect border territories.
- The ongoing negotiations highlight the complexities of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine emphasizing its defensive nature against Russian aggression.
What is known about the probable exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation
It is noted that preparations for the exchange of prisoners were confirmed to the journalists of the publication by representatives of Ukrainian intelligence.
At the same time, the exact number of captured Russian soldiers during the breakthrough of the Armed Forces of the Kursk region is not disclosed.
The authors of the material, citing Ukrainian officials, emphasize that it may be several hundred captured Russian soldiers.
Many young conscripts were among those captured.
The journalists claim that the negotiations on the exchange of prisoners started between the countries after 10 days of heavy fighting in the Kursk region.
The authors of the article believe that the large number of captured Russian soldiers will strengthen Kyiv's position in negotiations with Moscow regarding the return of thousands of its own soldiers and civilians who have been held in Kremlin torture chambers since the beginning of the war.
Does Ukraine plan to completely capture the Kursk region
According to the adviser to the head of the President's Office, Mykhailo Podoliak, the Ukrainian military does not plan to take control of the territory of the Kursk region by occupation, but only performs the function of protecting the border territories.
Ukraine is not interested in occupying these territories. But it is interested in the actual destruction of many Russian military facilities, pushing the remnants of Russian troops beyond the limits of artillery and ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian territory, forming a security belt around the borders of Ukraine, destroying the military material and technical base and infrastructure (including storage bases, educational centers and places of concentration of technology), - explains Podolyak.
He noted that Ukraine is not waging the same war as Russia, which is why there is a clear legal definition.
If Russia deliberately attacked Ukraine with the aim of killing the civilian population and occupying its territory, which is an unconditional war crime, then Ukraine is conducting an exclusively defensive war, including on the territory of the aggressor, to ensure the protection of its own population, which is its unconditional right, the adviser emphasized head of OP.
In the border regions of #Russia, including #Kursk region, Ukrainians deal exclusively with security-related tasks. #Ukraine is not interested in occupying these territories. But it is interested in the actual destruction of many Russian military facilities, pushing the remnants…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) August 15, 2024
