ICRC confirms it has had no access to Ukrainian POWs for two years
Russia has denied the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian detention since 2024.
“We can confirm the lack of access to POWs in Russia since 2024,” an ICRC spokesperson told Reuters on September 18.
Thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war are believed to be held in Russian detention centres, where UN investigators have gathered evidence of systematic torture. Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the ICRC is to be allowed to visit prisoners of war to monitor their conditions, treatment, food and medical care.
The ICRC has repeatedly called for access to all prisoners of war. In July 2026, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric raised the issue during her visit to Russia.
“If you want to uphold humanity, you have to talk about detention and what happens in prison,” Spoljaric told the BBC.
Russia denies torture and other forms of maltreatment of prisoners of war. The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The lack of access means that the ICRC cannot directly monitor the conditions of thousands of Ukrainian POWs held in Russia or assess their treatment and access to food and medical care.
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ICRC confirms it has had no access to Ukrainian POWs for two years
Russia has denied the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian detention since 2024. “We can confirm the lack of access to POWs in Russia since 2024,” an ICRC spokesperson told Reuters on September 18.
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