Kiev still holding Russian hostages – senior diplomat
Kiev continues to hold 12 Russian civilians abducted during the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said on Friday.
The hostage situation has remained unchanged for months, Miroshnik said at a press briefing, because Ukrainian officials “demand the return of Ukrainian war criminals held in our custody” in exchange for them. Miroshnik leads a Foreign Ministry mission tracking alleged Ukrainian crimes.
Last week, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova called Kiev’s demands unacceptable, adding that Moscow cannot legally comply. She stressed that international humanitarian law requires Ukraine to unconditionally release the civilians. Nine months of negotiations have yielded no progress, she said.
Ukrainian forces launched the cross-border offensive in August 2024, describing it as an attempt to seize territory as leverage in future peace talks with Russia. Dozens of people were taken to the Ukrainian city of Sumy before Russian troops repelled the incursion. Many have since been repatriated via Belarus.
Miroshnik’s report summarized data collected by his office over the past year. He said at least 6,483 civilian casualties in 2025 were linked to Ukrainian military action, including 1,065 deaths. He alleged that Ukrainian forces deliberately targeted ambulances and first responders in Russia. The diplomat claimed that Ukrainian attacks on civilians intensified last year “due to the activization of the peace process” under pressure from US President Donald Trump.
Last week, Russia, Ukraine, and the US held their first trilateral meeting following months of shuttle diplomacy by the Trump administration. The talks in Abu Dhabi focused on security issues, as Kiev maintains an uncompromising stance on some of the key Russian conditions for peace. Further negotiations are scheduled for Sunday.
