Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to support the Ukrainian armed forces with ensuring the safe return of any Ukrainian service personnel captured by the Russian armed forces.

As the parties to the war, the Ukrainian and Russian Governments are responsible for the treatment, exchange and release of their respective service personnel. The Ukrainian Government has made clear that all service personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured by Russia or Russian proxies have the rights of Prisoners of War. Prisoners of War must be treated in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, and care must be taken not to undermine the relevant mechanisms for the exchange of Prisoners of War. The Government is supportive of Ukraine's efforts on prisoner exchanges, including British Nationals detained in non-government held areas of Ukraine.