The UN recognized the captured Ukrainian sailors prisoners of war

Ukrainian sailors, captured by Russian border guards off the coast of annexed Crimea, can be considered prisoners of war. This is stated in the report of the Office of the Supreme Commissioner of the UN Human Rights.

The UN said that the detained sailors are subject to the Geneva Convention. And they will be in the status of prisoners of war until the competent court will make another decision. This means that it is forbidden to put pressure on sailors, intimidate and refuse the necessary medical care.

On November 25, Russian border guards captured three Ukrainian warships off the coast of the annexed Crimea and detained 24 sailors. Military personnel are accused of illegally crossing the border of Russia.

Kyiv considers the incident an act of aggression, and calls the sailors prisoners of war. The Russian authorities said that the Ukrainian military went on a conscious provocation. According to the position of the Russian authorities, sailors cannot be prisoners of war due to the lack of war between Russia and Ukraine.

In January, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution, where it condemned Russia's actions and demanded to release the sailors. At the same time, the term "prisoners of war" refused to use the PACE document. The European Union imposed sanctions against Russia for aggression in the Kerch Strait.

The Convention on the Counseling of Prisoners of War adopted on August 12, 1949 in Geneva. It belongs to international humanitarian law governing the maintenance of armed conflicts.