Russia denies accusations of refusing to include Ukrainian marines in exchange lists – Russian Politics and Diplomacy

MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected accusations that the Russian side refuses to include Ukrainian marines on its prisoner exchange lists.

“We have heard publicly voiced statements, and this information was also heard during those meetings in Montreal, that Russia allegedly refuses to include Ukrainian marines in the lists for prisoner exchange. This is absolutely untrue,” she said at a briefing. “We are ready to publish these lists. There are 29 people in them. These Ukrainian marines were released by the Russian side during the exchange.”

According to Zakharova, Russia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to exchange many Ukrainian marines. “But the Kiev regime has little interest in exchanging this category of its citizens, its own military personnel,” she emphasized.

“For example, the 36th Marine Brigade. It surrendered in Mariupol back in 2022. I am sure that the families of these people in Ukraine do not know that the Russian side has offered their family members who are in Russia as prisoners of war to be replaced “, she added.