Yesterday, at its autumn session in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) unanimously adopted a resolution on “Missing persons, prisoners of war and civilians in captivity as a result of the war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.”

This resolution is an important step towards restoring justice, ensuring accountability, and drawing attention to the humanitarian problems caused by the ongoing aggression. It amplifies the voices of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held by the Russian Federation on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia.

Key points of the Resolution include:

• Condemnation of Torture and Ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians by Russia;
• Calling for the release and humane treatment of prisoners of war and civilian prisoners and for the observance of international humanitarian law;
• A call to grant international organizations, in particular the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, access to all places where captured military and civilian personnel are held;
• The need to bring violators of humanitarian law to justice;
• Call for increased pressure on Russia to release military and civilian prisoners.

Ukraine remains steadfast in its commitment to defending its sovereignty and protecting its citizens. We urge all nations and international organizations to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against aggression and in holding the Russian Federation accountable for its actions.