In Ukraine, there are currently five camps for prisoners of war that are held in accordance with the Geneva Convention and humanitarian law.
An Ukrinform correspondent learned this from the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The Coordination Headquarters has confirmed there are five state facilities referred to as “Camps for the Detention of Prisoners of War” in Ukraine. The first facility was opened in 2022 in Western Ukraine.
“The Geneva Convention, which our country adheres to, establishes the standards for the detention of prisoners of war. These standards include provisions for comfortable conditions, access to medical care, food, the receipt of parcels and letters, and time for rest. They are also given the opportunity to work, for officers — only with their consent,” the Headquarters said.
The Headquarters added that there are no such specialized camps in Russia, and Ukrainian prisoners of war are held in prisons with separate blocks.
It was that Ukraine initiated a process for the exchange of prisoners of war in 2022: previously, exchanges had never taken place during hostilities, only after they ended. Ukraine is currently engaged in ongoing efforts to facilitate these exchanges. Even though Russia can cancel the exchange at any time and has done so more than once.
“According to data provided by the Justice Ministry of Ukraine, it costs UAH 10,000 per month to maintain one Russian prisoner of war. Those who are able to work can spend their earnings, as there is a shop on the territory of the camp. When a prisoner wants to buy something, the necessary amount is deducted from the prisoner’s account, and the food products are provided in exchange,” the Coordination Headquarters said.
In addition, Headquarters organizes visits to the camp by media representatives from different countries on a monthly basis. These visits allow the international community to observe the conditions in which Russian military personnel are held. All journalists are warned that only those prisoners of war who have given their consent can be interviewed, taken pictures of, or recorded on video.
The Headquarters also provided a set of essential items for all prisoners of war upon their arrival at the camp. This set includes three pairs of shoes, including boots, shoes, and flip-flops; several pairs of socks; pants, jacket, underwear, hat, cap; as well as soap, toothpaste and brush, towel, toilet paper, and razor.
The camp is required to have a medical building with rooms equipped with modern medical equipment, including an X-ray room, an ultrasound room, and a dental room. The camp employs a team of medical professionals, including radiologists, surgeons, therapists, neurologists, dentists, and psychiatrists. Prisoners of war are given cardiograms, dental treatment, and regular weigh-ins.
According to the camp’s medical staff, the majority of prisoners of war show a monthly weight gain.
The menu in the canteen in the camps changes daily, and the prisoners of war have no complaints about the food. The weight of all products (meat, porridge, bread) is in accordance with the norms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the afternoon, many prisoners of war are engaged in productive activities. Under the Geneva Convention, the nature of their work must be such that it does not degrade human dignity.
The camp is equipped with a sports ground for physical training.
As reported, another prisoner swap took place between Ukraine and Russia at the end of December 2024, with 187 Ukrainian soldiers and 2 civilians returning home.
Ukraine has managed to negotiate a separate format for the return of seriously ill and severely wounded Ukrainian military and civilian prisoners from Russia.
