Vereshchuk: Russian teachers were detained in the territories of Ukraine returned to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they face up to 12 years in prison

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk told Strana that teachers from Russia were detained in the territories of Ukraine recaptured from the Russian army. They came to teach Russian curricula in local schools after Russian troops established a foothold here.

According to Vereshchuk, the detainees will be charged under the article on violation of the laws and customs of war (438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

“Of course, the court will determine the punishment for them, but there are still a certain number of Russian citizens on the territory of our state who came to the temporarily occupied territories and will definitely be punished if they do not leave our territory immediately,” Vereshchuk said.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that the Ukrainian authorities do not consider teachers as prisoners of war and will not exchange them: “The Geneva Conventions do not provide for the exchange of non-prisoners of war.”

Vereshchuk also stated that criminal punishment awaits Ukrainian teachers who agreed to teach according to the Russian curriculum: “I once again urge all teachers in the temporarily occupied territories: under no circumstances cooperate with the enemy and the occupier, evacuate as quickly as possible and thereby save your life and health."