Protesters rally outside US embassy in Kyiv in support of prisoners of war

A protest was held in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday, demanding help in liberating Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia.

People holding posters outside the embassy were joined by veterans of the war in Ukraine.

Since the early days of the war, Russia and Ukraine have conducted prisoner of war exchanges, with the most recent one taking place in February.

Ukraine has not disclosed the exact number of its POWs held by Russia, but estimates suggest it exceeds 8,000.

A recent report published in January by the United States Mission to the United Nations reportedly showed evidence of Russian abuse against Ukrainian prisoners of war, including sexual, physical and psychological torture. According to the report, detainees without adequate sanitation, medical services or food.

Last April, Kyiv reported that nearly 37,000 Ukrainians — both military personnel and civilians — were missing. However, officials acknowledge that determining an exact count is challenging, and the actual figure may be significantly higher.

Meanwhile in Brussels, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said upon his arrival at an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels on European defence and Ukraine that “it is very important that we ensure that Ukraine does not have to accept a dictated peace, but that there will be a fair and just peace that ensures the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

Scholz said he supports concrete proposals, such as silencing weapons in the air and sea and no further threats to Ukraine’s infrastructure and a prisoner exchanges, which “can lay the foundation for a ceasefire.”