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Russia's new Commissioner for Human Rights, Yana Lantratova, has reported that all civilians from the Kursk Region who were held in Ukraine have been returned, and that preparations are continuing for further prisoner-of-war exchanges. Lantratova, who was recently appointed to the post, has been actively engaged in these efforts, according to statements carried by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this story comes from TASS's English-language service, which has published several articles covering Lantratova's statements. The coverage spans two weeks, with the earliest report dated June 26 and the latest July 8. Across these reports, TASS presents Lantratova's comments on the status of civilian returns, prisoner exchanges, and communication with Ukrainian officials.

The reports are consistent in their core facts: all Kursk civilians held in Ukraine have been released, and some individuals remain missing. They also consistently cite Lantratova's expectation of further returns through a humanitarian channel with the Ukrainian ombudsman. The tone of the coverage is largely neutral, although some reports include language that characterizes Ukrainian actions critically, such as referring to "illegal detention" and "war crimes."

Key Claims

All Kursk civilians returned

Lantratova said that all Kursk Region residents who had been illegally detained in Ukraine have returned to Russia. In a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, she stated: "We have managed to persuade the Ukrainian side and return home all the Kursk Region residents who were illegally detained on the territory of Ukraine. They've all come home." A separate statement from July 8 reiterated this: "There are no Kursk civilians left in Ukrainian captivity; we have brought everyone home."

Missing persons

While all civilians have been returned, Lantratova acknowledged that some people remain missing following the Ukrainian army's incursion into the Kursk Region. She said: "There still are some missing people that we keep searching for."

Prisoner-of-war exchanges

Lantratova said she played a role in the return of 550 Russian prisoners of war from Ukraine, working "in close cooperation with the Defense Ministry, with the relevant special services." She also said preparations are underway for further exchanges, describing the work as not stopping "for a single day." She declined to announce dates in advance, explaining: "We don't announce exchange dates in advance for a reason as we don't want to disrupt the process because it involves human lives."

Humanitarian channel with Ukraine

Lantratova said she expects the return of Kursk Region residents still in Ukraine through a humanitarian channel with the Ukrainian ombudsman. In a June 26 statement, she said: "In the coming days, we will have another exchange, the transfer of civilians. This humanitarian mission will remain between our channels. I hope that in the near future the citizens of the Kursk Region, who are still in Ukraine, will be at home." She did not specify the number of people involved.

Communication with Ukrainian ombudsman

Lantratova described her communication with Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmitry Lubinets as "rather effective and fruitful." She said they maintain contact through phone and video calls, as well as in-person meetings, and share data on missing people, agree on mutual visits to prisoners of war, and exchange parcels, letters, and documents.

Foreign media visit to Starobelsk

Lantratova said that foreign media who visited the Starobelsk college—which she said was attacked by Ukraine—confirmed that children lived there and that no military facilities were present. She said: "When all this happened, it could not be called anything but a war crime. I went to the territory. We organized the arrival of 50 journalists from different countries. So we went into every room of this college together, and, of course, they didn't see any military base there. They saw a bloodstained blanket, personal photos, and children's toys."

Kyiv's crimes

Lantratova said that international organizations have begun to acknowledge evidence of Kyiv's crimes against civilians: "It is worth noting that after a while, responses have started to come in confirming such facts."

Perspectives

Russian government and human rights office

Lantratova's statements, as reported by TASS, present the position of Russia's human rights office and its engagement with Ukraine on prisoner and civilian exchanges. The framing emphasizes the return of all Kursk civilians, preparations for further swaps, and productive communication with the Ukrainian ombudsman. The language used reflects official Russian characterizations of the situation, including references to "illegal detention," "war crimes," and the Ukrainian army's "incursion" into the Kursk Region. No other perspective is presented in the material.