Ukraine, Russia launch 'new format' for evacuating civilians from occupied territories, ombudsman says

Ukraine and Russia have introduced a new method for evacuating civilians from territories Russia has occupied, with the human rights ombudsman in Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, revealing this development on November 13. This new format allows for weekly evacuations of vulnerable groups, including the elderly, those with limited mobility, and individuals requiring medical aid, to Ukrainian-controlled territories.

The initiative was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump during a recent ceasefire in the town of Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, following Russian forces' observation of the truce. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is assisting in the process. Sixteen Ukrainians were returned on November 12 under this arrangement.

Lubinets stated that they are working to bring back individuals from all occupied territories, but there is a higher demand for returns from Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. They have also successfully facilitated returns from Kherson Oblast. The cooperation between the two nations extends to prisoner exchanges, with Kyiv and Moscow maintaining regular dialogue on this issue.

Among their priorities are seriously wounded and ill prisoners, as well as Ukrainian women, both military personnel and civilians, who remain in Russian custody, with 486 women held in this manner. Ukraine is also striving to secure the release of those who have been in captivity the longest, including those since 2022 or earlier.

One recent exchange on October 23 resulted in the release of two men held captive since 2018 and 2020, respectively. However, releasing Ukrainian service members convicted by Russian courts remains a significant challenge, as Russian authorities often accuse captured Ukrainian soldiers of crimes they did not commit. So far, 86 Ukrainians convicted by Russian courts have been released in the latest prisoner exchange.

Ukraine continues to seek an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange, while negotiations to return the bodies of those killed are ongoing. The whereabouts of thousands of Ukrainians currently in captivity, as well as those living under occupation, remain uncertain. Ukrainian authorities estimate that up to 16,000 Ukrainians are missing, while Russia holds thousands of Ukrainian civilians in detention. In September, 15 Ukrainians, including a 96-year-old woman from Kherson Oblast, were brought home.