KYIV, March 6 (Reuters) - While U.S. President Donald Trump continues efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Kateryna Bohutska is determined to ensure her 24-year-old son is not forgotten.
Standing opposite the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, holding a picture of Rostyslav, a marine saxophonist held by Russia since 2022, Bohutska, along with other relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians detained by Russia, hopes that ongoing diplomatic efforts will lead to their release.
Bohutska, 46, expressed optimism during a rally on Thursday, emphasizing, "If everyone unites on this front - our side, the Americans, other influential countries - then there must be a result."
Throughout the conflict, Kyiv and Moscow have engaged in periodic small-scale prisoner exchanges. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed a comprehensive all-for-all swap as a potential pathway to peace with Russia.
In the aftermath of a White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy, the Trump administration is pushing for a swift resolution to the conflict and is looking to secure concessions from Kyiv. This shift in approach involves a reduction in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing as part of efforts to reach a compromise with Moscow and strike a deal with Ukraine.
Bohutska underscored the importance of sustained public pressure as peace negotiations progress, stating, "It would be alarming if this issue were to be sidelined when the time for talks arrives."
The urgency of the matter is compounded by allegations of widespread prisoner abuse, including torture and rape, leveled against Russia by Ukraine and human rights organizations. Russia denies these accusations.
Recent exchangee Roman Andriychenko, a sailor who spent 33 months in captivity, described his harrowing prison conditions as "impossible to put into words." He is advocating for larger prisoner exchanges in each round to include more individuals, especially his fellow sailors.
Andriychenko expressed frustration, saying, "I've witnessed the process – I don’t see any obstacles. Are there not enough buses or planes to transport them? The only missing elements are an agreement and the will. Perhaps the will is present, but the agreement is pending."
Among the detainees is 42-year-old Serhiy Dorokhov, an electrician abducted from his home in a Kyiv suburb in March 2022 by Russian forces. His wife, Oksana, stressed the pivotal role of the U.S. in using its diplomatic influence to help secure his release, noting, "Regrettably, our side lacks leverage over Russia...we are reliant on - and appealing to - the U.S. to assist us in this matter."