Kherson police officer-collaborator waited 11 months to go to Russia

As part of the prisoner exchange, 70 collaborators were handed over to Russia, including a representative from Kherson, Viktor Kirillov.

This was reported by the project "I want to go to my own", implemented by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War with the support of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

Viktor Kirillov was sentenced to 9 years in prison for collaboration. He worked as a police officer - a driver of the occupation police unit in the Korabelny district of Kherson. Kirillov had been waiting to leave for Russia for more than 11 months and 9 days. On May 23, he was handed over to Russia as part of an exchange.

Photo: "I want to be with my own" project

In total, 70 collaborators left for Russia during the exchange on May 23, while dozens of civilian hostages who had been illegally detained by the Russian authorities for years returned to Ukraine.

The project "I Want to Go Home" offers the Russian side to organize the departure of convicted Russian agents in exchange for the release of Ukrainians from Russian captivity. The project emphasizes that all the collaborators voluntarily expressed their desire to go to Russia and openly call the Russians "their own." However, Russia is in no hurry to accept them.

Recently, the Kremlin media have been actively mentioning the topic of convicted Ukrainian collaborators, which, according to the Ukrainian side, may indicate that they are seriously considering their departure to Russia, provided that Ukrainians return from enemy captivity.

It is worth noting that the Russian representative at the talks in Istanbul claimed that pro-Russian activists in Ukraine were allegedly being repressed. In response, Ukraine emphasizes that there are no repressions against those convicted of high treason, but rather that they are doing everything possible to allow them to leave for Russia if the Ukrainians are released.

Intent wrote that on May 23, the first stage of a large prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. The exchange is conducted in a 1000-for-1000 format and will last three days.

Ірина Глухова