Ukraine says it upholds POW rights amid reported Filipino recruits

MANILA, February 20 ------ The Ukrainian government is preserving the rights of all prisoners of war (POWs) in the ongoing conflict with Russia, its ambassador to the Philippines said, following reports that six Filipinos allegedly recruited as mercenaries for the Russian side are being held by Kyiv. “We follow international law. That is what we have been espousing – the rule of law,” Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Fediv said in a chance interview on the sidelines of the Stratbase ADR Institute forum in Makati City.

Fediv said POWs in Ukraine are treated humanely, consistent with international humanitarian law. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that seven Filipinos were recruited to fight for the Russian side, one of whom died during an assault in Kramatorsk District in the Donetsk region.

The rest of them, on the other hand, are being held by Ukraine as POWs. DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona declined to provide details about the assistance being facilitated on behalf of the Filipinos, but said the department is already in touch with authorities from both Ukraine and Russia, including the Red Cross. Citing information provided by the POWs’ families, the DFA said those involved were mostly recruited through “very deceptive” online job offers.

Source: pna.gov.ph