Ukraine establishes a National Information Bureau (NIB) following international humanitarian law. The Ukrainian government made this decision today, 17 March 2022.
The NIB will act following international humanitarian law, in particular Art. 122 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (III) and Art. 136 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (IV).
"Given that Ukraine is one of the parties in this war, our state in the context of international law is obliged to behave in this way. After all, Ukraine is a civilized country and adheres to international norms. The National Information Bureau will be subordinated to the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories ", - says the message.
The fundamental goal of the bureau is to collect and summarize data on Ukrainian prisoners of war, dead, missing, illegally detained in rf, in particular, among the civilian population. In the future, an "exchange fund" will be established in Ukraine, mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"The" hotline "of the National Information Bureau - 1648 and (044) 287-81-65 opened for the initial collection of information and communication with victims started to function today. The line will also operate in messengers," the government said.
According to official data of the General Staff of UAF, losses among enemy personnel already exceed 14 thousand militaries. The Ukrainian side compiles lists of both the dead and the prisoners of war.