The Red Cross noted on December 8, 2022, that it visited Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia last week, and the next visit is planned for this week. The President of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric also arrived in Ukraine.
Source: The press service of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the President of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric
“The ICRC last week carried out one two-day visit to Ukrainian prisoners of war, with another happening this week. During the same period, visits were also carried out to Russian prisoners of war, with more visits planned by the end of the month,” noted the press service of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
It is reported that representatives of the ICRC checked the conditions of detention and treatment of prisoners of war and delivered personal hygiene products, blankets, warm clothes and books to the prisoners. The ICRC also contacted the families of the war prisoners to relay news from their loved ones.
In addition, the President of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric arrived in Ukraine for a four-day visit on December 8, 2022.
“I’ve arrived in Ukraine for a four-day visit: here civilians are paying an enormous price in the deadly hostilities. Today I’ll meet with people in Mykolayiv and Kherson Oblast who are facing a desperate winter – and meet with the teams of ICRC Ukraine and Red Cross Ukraine working to help,” Mirjana Spoljaric wrote on Twitter.
While the recent visits are important progress, the ICRC must be granted unhindered access to all detainees repeatedly and without guards, wherever they are held. Because earlier, Russian authorities in the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine prevented access of international observers to places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners.
See also: The Russians do not let the Red Cross investigate the attack that killed Ukrainian war prisoners
