Ukraine launched a program to exchange traitors for prisoners of war

Ukraine recently launched a new state program aimed at exchanging individuals who have betrayed their country for soldiers Russia has been captured in the war. But will the program help bring home more prisoners of war? 

The new program was established by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine in partnership with the Security Service of Ukraine and a group within Ukraine called the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. 

Photo Credit: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence termed the new program ‘Hochu k Svoim’, which means ‘I Want to Join My Kind’ when translated into English according to the Ukrainian military news website Militarnyi—it’s a clever play on words. 

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported in a press release that the new program is focused on facilitating the return of all Ukrainians from Russian captivity and will offer up traitors who betrayed Ukraine as incentive for Russia. 

“The primary objective of the project is to publicize information about convicted Russian agents, traitors, and collaborators who cooperated with or assisted Russian occupation forces in the war against Ukraine,” Euromaidan’s Yuri Zoria wrote about the program. 

Defense Intelligence of Ukraine representative Andrii Yusov stated that Hochu k Svoim would publish information regarding convicted Russian agents and traitors online on a website where there is a ‘consent to exchange’ option available. 

Photo Credit: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine

“This means that the traitor has agreed to be exchanged in the future for a Ukrainian who is in Russian captivity,” Militarnyi reported about the new project's innovative way of returning Ukrainian prisoners while getting rid of traitors. 

Militarnyi also noted that all of the individuals listed on the Hochu k Svoim website are people who have already been convicted of collaborating with Russia or have assisted Moscow during its invasion of Ukraine. 

Photo Credit: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine

“The site also has additional functionality that will allow Ukrainian citizens to stop forced cooperation with Russia or to inform the relevant authorities about a person who is collaborating with the enemy,’ Militarnyi continued. 

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine called on citizens to participate in its project online in a press release. The website is also a way to allow the government to teach its citizens about the different ways they can end forced cooperation with Russia. 

The Hochu k Svoim program will also teach individuals about how they can inform the authorities when they suspect someone of collaborating. The hope is that Kyiv will be able to end further crimes in the country. 

Unfortunately, collaboration with Russia is a major problem in Ukraine. Figures provided by the Security Service of Ukraine in 2023 showed that more than 7,600 individuals had been accused of collaboration between February 2022 and September 2023. 

Photo Credit: Security Service of Ukraine

“Some are accused of providing information on military objectives to the Russian military, participating in actions of repression or ‘glorifying the enemy’ on messages posted on social networks,” Eurovision News reported. 

Photo Credit: Security Service of Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine provided daily reports on its website that reveal some of the most egregious crimes committed by internal traitors working with Russia to win the war in Ukraine through various acts of collaboration. 

Photo Credit: Security Service of Ukraine

Some of the most reported problems are about individuals helping Russian forces strike military and civilian targets, like the July arrest of a married couple who prepared info on a series of missile strike locations for Russia in Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts.

Photo Credit: Security Service of Ukraine

There are also more series of collaboration efforts reported, such as a recent operation that thwarted attempts by a former Ukrainian television host and pro-Russian blogger who created a network on social media aimed at inciting armed resistance against Ukraine’s mobilization efforts. 

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Photo Credit: Security Service of Ukraine