Manipulation: Ukraine disrupting POW swap
Mr Mizintsev, head of the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation, told Russian journalists that the Kyiv authorities allegedly disrupted the exchange of prisoners of war. He also said that the Ukrainian side rejects the Russian proposals without explanation.
In fact, the stated report is false. The essence of the problem is that the Russian side sets the following conditions for the exchange of prisoners: military – for military, civilians – for civilians. The exchange of military for civilians is prohibited by the Geneva Convention. Thus, the Russian Federation violates the norms of international humanitarian law.
In addition, Ukraine did not capture Russian civilians. But on the other side, the capture of Ukrainian civilians has been recorded almost from the first days of the war. The Russians are holding hostage not only the military, but many Ukrainian civilians: city mayors, journalists, volunteers, clergymen, and ordinary workers who have never taken up arms.
Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk appealed to the international community and human rights organizations with a demand to join efforts and seek the release of Ukrainian civilians, calling it the only way out. According to the official, there are currently about 600 Russian prisoners of war held by Ukraine, who are intended to be exchanged for Ukrainians.
Fake: Head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, admits Russian rouble coping well with sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Information spins are being massively circulated by the Russian media, claiming Borrell confirmed that the rouble had proven strong and stable against the sanctions. The same media, such as Komsomolskaya Pravda, claim that Borrell recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously signed a decree on gas trade with unfriendly nations, obliging these states to pay for blue fuel in roubles, noting that such a step is aimed to support the Russian currency.
In fact, EU High Representative Josep Borrell never made such statements. J. Borrell did speak about the Russian economy on the air of the Spanish radio COPE, but in his speech the diplomat insisted on toughening sanctions, since the existing restrictions are not enough to make Putin and his entourage to stop the war against Ukraine. The phrase was torn out of context and massively replicated to misinform the audience. Borrell, in particular, said that Putin insists that gas be paid for in roubles to support the currency and the consequences of this will be seen in the near future. That is, J. Borrell did not express his enthusiasm for the Russian economy prospects and the stability of the rouble, as Russian media claim. Using a thesis taken out of context, the Kremlin designs propaganda reports in which they emphasize that even foreign politicians and Europe seem to recognize the strength of the Russian economy, which will not be affected by sanctions.
The influence and effect of sanctions of the Russian Federation will be felt in the near future. After all, sanctions were introduced against Russia for an indefinite period, so it is obvious that the country does not immediately experience global implications from the restrictions imposed. For example, Iran has been living under sanctions for 40 years and all this time has been looking for ways to lift these restrictions. A similar story, obviously, awaits the Russian Federation.
