Around 1,000 Ukrainian citizens have been abandoned by Vladimir Zelensky’s administration despite claims it wants “all-for-all” POW swaps

A collage of photos showing 1,000 Ukrainian POWs Kiev has refused to repatriate from Russia. © RT

Ukrainian prisoners of war rejected by Kiev want to return home to see their families, they told RT in exclusive interviews released on Wednesday. Four of the nearly 1,000 Ukrainians the Kiev authorities have refused to repatriate amid “all-for-all” POW swaps with Russia said the conflict must end and questioned why their names were repeatedly removed from exchange lists.

A lieutenant colonel who surrendered in Mariupol said there are “probably reasons” why he hasn’t been exchanged. Asked whether he had heard reports that people in Kiev could “buy” a place on the POW list, he replied that “corruption is rife everywhere” and that he was not surprised.

Another serviceman, captured three years ago, said he wants the conflict to end and longs to live “as before 2014,” referring to the year of the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev. “There’s no need to continue,” he said. “Already too many people have died.”

 

READ MORE: Nearly 400,000 have deserted Ukrainian army – MP

A 22-year-old who never served due to health issues said he wants to return to his family, but believes Kiev passed him over because “they need soldiers” not shop assistants.

A civilian saved from gunfire by Russian soldiers in the Kiev region said he does not want to return to Ukraine and would prefer to start a new life in Russia. “It’s time to end it all, to make a deal… We’re Slavs, we’ve always fought shoulder to shoulder, and now it’s brother against brother,” he said.

All expressed a desire to reunite with their families, but none wanted to fight.

READ MORE: Russia prepared to wait if Ukraine rejects talks – Putin

Russia submitted all 1,000 names for previous POW swaps, but Kiev rejected them. In response, the group sent a collective petition to Zelensky, demanding inclusion in future exchanges. Each of the 1,000 signed their names, call signs, and ranks. RT holds the exclusive full list and will publish it on a dedicated site – 1000ua.ru – along with their photos.