Türkiye Confirms Transfer of Ukrainian POW and Missing Persons Lists to Russia

Türkiye has confirmed that it has formally transferred lists of missing Ukrainian civilians and severely wounded prisoners of war to the Russian Federation, marking a renewed humanitarian channel in an otherwise stalled conflict environment.

Speaking through official channels, Türkiye’s Chief Ombudsman Mehmet Akarca confirmed that the lists — compiled by Ukrainian authorities and families — were conveyed to Moscow as part of ongoing humanitarian coordination. The documents reportedly include missing persons, critically injured POWs, and civilians believed to be unlawfully detained, categories protected under international humanitarian law.

Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets described Türkiye’s role as a functional intermediary, noting that Ankara has maintained working communication lines with both sides despite the broader diplomatic freeze. According to Ukrainian officials, the transfer of lists is intended to prioritize medical evacuations, clarify the fate of missing persons, and facilitate future exchanges.

Beyond the technical transfer, the two ombudsman institutions agreed to establish a continuous communication mechanism, allowing for follow-up updates, verification requests, and the transmission of appeals from prisoners’ families. Türkiye also conveyed messages written by relatives of Ukrainian detainees, underscoring the personal and humanitarian dimension of the process.

The move builds on earlier Türkiye-brokered humanitarian efforts, including previous large-scale prisoner exchanges facilitated through talks hosted in Istanbul. While no immediate exchange has been announced, officials in Kyiv have framed the latest step as procedural but necessary, laying groundwork for potential future releases.

Türkiye’s involvement reflects its broader posture in the war: avoiding direct alignment while preserving operational access to both Moscow and Kyiv on limited but concrete humanitarian issues. In this context, Ankara’s role is less about mediation at the strategic level and more about sustaining practical channels where diplomacy has otherwise narrowed.