Ukraine rights chief cites diplomacy in talks

Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories may gain additional evacuation options as Kyiv and Moscow continue diplomatic channels for humanitarian aid. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, confirmed on November 2 that he is maintaining direct negotiations with Yana Lantratova, his Russian counterpart, to facilitate the return of Ukrainian residents from occupied zones.

Lubinets stated that his professional role requires him to manage personal emotions to ensure the talks remain productive. He noted that he shares the common Ukrainian sentiment toward Russia but argued that allowing feelings to dictate the process would weaken the final outcomes.

The two commissioners held their first meeting five days after Lantratova took office. During that initial session, Lubinets immediately raised the case of Oleshky, a settlement in Kherson Oblast. He said he has since developed joint proposals and initiatives on humanitarian matters with his Russian colleague.

Lubinets said Russian occupation forces did not subject civilians to filtration procedures during a recent humanitarian mission in Oleshky. This specific arrangement allows for the organized evacuation of residents without the standard screening processes often used in occupied territories.

The Ukrainian commissioner expressed hope that the approach used in Oleshky could be extended to other areas. He and Lantratova have agreed to ask the First Lady of the United States to help expand the practice of humanitarian missions to other settlements with difficult living conditions.

Melania Trump previously reported that nearly 800 people were evacuated during a humanitarian mission carried out in Oleshky under a ceasefire. Lubinets indicated that the current discussions cover a possible new mission involving six settlements in Kherson Oblast.

Lubinets emphasized that direct negotiation is the primary method available to bring back Ukrainian citizens. He said he sees no issue with using respectful forms of address in professional settings, noting that his counterpart calls him by his patronymic.