Turkey's Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts for Ukrainian Prisoners

Turkey will continue its diplomatic efforts to resolve both the war and humanitarian issues, specifically regarding the repatriation of Ukrainians held by Russia. This was stated by Sadettin Kalkan, a representative from the Turkish Ombudsman's office, during a meeting with families of military captives.
“You have been enduring a difficult period for about four years, one that no society or individual would wish to experience. As a neighboring nation, we are genuinely saddened by this. We hope for a resolution of the problem and the cessation of the conflict, and we are committed to serious work in this regard… These efforts will persist,” said Kalkan.
The ombudsman emphasized the diplomatic initiatives of the Turkish president aimed at achieving peace and the role of the country in advancing humanitarian solutions.
“We have sent a request to Russian ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova to visit Russia to monitor the conditions of individuals regarding whom we have received previous inquiries. However, we have not yet received a response… We will process and forward your appeals to the Russian side as we have done before… Our support and efforts will continue,” Kalkan stated.
During the meeting, family members of the military captives described violations of international law by Russia regarding the treatment of prisoners, including torture, physical abuse, inhumane conditions, and constant psychological pressure.
Relatives of the captives reported numerous instances where Russia does not confirm the detention of certain individuals, despite confirmations from released Ukrainian soldiers and circulated videos on social media.
“Russia continues to violate the Geneva Conventions, and your support is our only leverage. They are killing our prisoners, returning not only the living and wounded but also the bodies of those tortured in captivity. There are thousands of cases of our missing soldiers that we know are in captivity, but Russia does not acknowledge this,” said Svitlana Liashko, head of the public movement “In the Footsteps of Those Who Wait.”
Families of the Ukrainian captives highlighted the lack of communication with the prisoners, absence of medical care, and the detention of seriously ill individuals, such as those with tuberculosis, in common cells. They also mentioned cases where, after appealing their sentences, Ukrainian captives received even longer terms or life sentences.
“In Russian captivity, people are subjected to severe mistreatment, enduring constant physical and psychological pressure. Upon my return from captivity, I joined a public organization focused on bringing prisoners home. My goal is to ensure that all Ukrainians return home… We are grateful to Turkey for its assistance in bringing our captives back and hope for continued support,” said a former prisoner who was held for over a thousand days since being captured in 2022.
Family representatives handed lists and personal appeals for the release of their relatives from Russian captivity to the Turkish ombudsman.