Russia and Ukraine, currently at war, exchanged letters and parcels for prisoners from both countries for the first time.
On the 23rd (local time), Russia and Ukraine exchanged letters and parcels to be delivered to prisoners.
Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia's Human Rights Commissioner, announced on the 23rd (local time) via Telegram, "Today, we humanely exchanged letters and parcels sent by relatives to Russian prisoners in Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian soldiers detained in Russian territory."
Commissioner Moskalkova explained, "We agreed with Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner, to carry out the exchange with the support and participation of the authorities at the border between the two countries."
This is the first time since Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February last year that the two countries have exchanged letters for prisoners.
On the 30th of last month, Commissioners Moskalkova and Lubinets each visited 119 prisoners from their respective countries held in the other country to check on their conditions.
Amid speculation that the two countries are conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding prisoner exchanges, Commissioner Moskalkova expressed in an interview with TASS news agency her hope that "Ukrainian soldiers in Russia would be able to contact their families."
Russia and Ukraine have not disclosed the number of their soldiers detained as prisoners in the other country.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
