Ukrainian ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova has suggested that Russia release the Ukrainian naval prisoners of war in its custody under her personal guarantee.
"The Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation allows detainees to be released under a personal guarantee or guarantor. I, as the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, offered my guarantee to ensure the participation of our prisoners of war in a preliminary pretrial session, should there be one," Denisova said.
According to her, the sailors' morale is high and they want to return home.
"And I really hope that this will be possible," she added.
Earlier today, Moscow's Lefortovo court extended the custody of 24 Ukrainian sailors captured by the Russian FSB off the Kerch Strait in November 2018 by another 30 days.
On 25 May 2019, the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea decided that Russia should release the Ukrainian sailors and return three ships. Russia has ignored the demands of Ukraine and the international community for their release.
On 15 July, Ukrainian sailors were included in the prisoner exchange list.