In brief
The Kremlin says no deals exist between Russian and Ukrainian human‑rights ombudspersons for prison visits, but the Ukrainian representative Dmitry Lubinets’ recent visit to Russia during a humanitarian mission is already a precedent. The Kremlin insists a multi‑step coordination process would be needed to pursue such visits.
On Saturday, the Kremlin announced that no agreements have yet been reached between Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets regarding mutual prison visits. Yet the recent arrival of Lubinets in Russia, part of a humanitarian relief mission to the settlement of Alyoshki in Kherson, is already a precedent, the Kremlin said.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if such visits were to be contemplated, the parties would first need to work out a plan and coordinate with their respective authorities. The process, he added, would be multi‑stage.
"If this issue should arise, they must certainly work out a plan in the first place," Peskov noted.
He also pointed out that, "This is a multi‑stage process. So far, there are no agreements on this matter," and that Lubinets’ travel “created a precedent” by being the first time a Ukrainian human‑rights official has come to Russia in this capacity. The humanitarian mission began in May 2026 and included provisions for food, medicine, and evacuation in the temporary ceasefire zone that has been in effect from 04:00 a.m. Moscow time on October 27 to 22:59 p.m. Moscow time on November 1 2026.
The mission was undertaken by Lantratova and Lubinets with mediation from US First Lady Melania Trump, according to the Kremlin’s statement. The lack of formal agreements remains, and whether future visits will materialize has not yet been confirmed.
