Amnesty International criticized Ukrainian officials for using the image of Russian prisoners of war. According to the NGO, captured soldiers are being taken to Ukrainian government press conferences to discuss their role in the Russian invasion.

In some of the records of these moments, the prisoners say that they were used as a maneuver by Moscow and that they did not understand the scale of the conflict, nor what they would do there.

Amnesty stressed that the rights of prisoners of war must be respected in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention – the treaty prohibits torture, physical and psychological pressure and inhumane treatment. Any public appearance could put prisoners of war at risk when they return to their country of origin, as well as creating a problematic situation for their families.