‘Stop playing dirty games,’ say Ukrainian officials in strongly-worded statement
Kyiv Accuses Moscow of Stalling POW Swap, Calls Out “Dirty Games”
Tensions flared again on the humanitarian front of the Ukraine-Russia war as Ukrainian officials lashed out at Moscow over what they call “manipulative” tactics and a breach of trust in the ongoing prisoner of war (POW) exchange process.
In a strongly worded statement issued Friday, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs dismissed recent Russian claims that Kyiv was responsible for delays in a long-anticipated prisoner swap. Ukrainian officials say those assertions are both “false and misleading,” and accuse Russia of disrupting a fragile humanitarian agreement.
“The Russian statements do not correspond to reality or to previously agreed arrangements neither regarding the exchange of prisoners nor the repatriation of bodies,” the statement read.
According to Kyiv, both parties had met in Istanbul earlier in the week and outlined a structured framework for exchanging POWs, prioritizing severely wounded soldiers, young servicemen, and the ill. Ukraine claims to have fulfilled its obligations by submitting its lists in line with these criteria, while accusing Russia of responding with “alternative lists” that disregard the agreed-upon standards.
Ukraine also says that while a deal has been reached regarding the return of fallen soldiers’ remains, Russia has taken unilateral actions outside the joint framework raising concerns about Moscow’s sincerity.
“Instead of a constructive dialogue, we are once again faced with manipulations and attempts to exploit sensitive humanitarian issues for propaganda,” Ukraine charged.
The statement ends with a stark message aimed at the Kremlin: “Stop playing dirty games. We urge the Russian side to implement the agreement clearly and without delay in the coming days.”
With lives and dignity on the line, Kyiv’s frustration reflects broader concerns that Moscow is weaponizing humanitarian issues for political advantage another troubling sign in an already brutal and complex war.
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‘Stop playing dirty games,’ say Ukrainian officials in strongly-worded statement