Russia Seeks Return of 31 Kursk Residents Held in Ukraine

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Russia and Ukraine have exchanged a list of 31 civilians held

Moskalkova claimed Ukraine continues to hold 31 residents of Russia’s southwestern Kursk region, which briefly came under Ukrainian occupation during a cross-border incursion last August.

According to the state-run news agency TASS, Moskalkova said she had sent

“We’ve agreed with [Ukrainian human rights ombudsman] Dmytro Lubinets on talks this week to determine a specific date [for the exchange],” she was quoted as saying.

There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine about the discussions for a possible exchange.

Moskalkova has accused Ukrainian forces of forcibly moving more than 1,000 Kursk residents before Russian troops regained control of the region earlier this year.

Relatives of missing residents in Kursk previously estimated that up to 3,000 people were caught in the occupied areas.

Moskalkova’s announcement came days after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 84 prisoners each. Both sides have carried out a series of large-scale swaps following direct peace talks in Istanbul in May and June.

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