Russia is holding about 1700 people hostage.
About 700 Ukrainian troops are being held hostage by Russian forces, citing the Ukrainian deputy prime minister.
“As for the army, we have almost the same number: we have more than 700 prisoners and they have about the same number,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.
The Ukrainian politician also said that Kremlin troops had taken hostage 1,000 civilians – about half of whom were women.
“Unfortunately, there are many of our civilians [in captivity]. “They captured more than 1,000 people and, unfortunately, about 500 of them are women.”
“And we, of course, will repeat again and again that we will not exchange soldiers with civilians, this is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions. “We will not violate international humanitarian law and therefore demand the unconditional release of civilians and their transfer to the Ukrainian side,” Vereshchuk said.
Otherwise, Russia and Ukraine have already exchanged prisoners of war five times.