Collaborators: "Ukrainians who cooperate with Russia." Stories of civilians who were handed over to Russia during the exchange. - BBC

From May 23 to 25, 2025, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner swap in the "1000 for 1000" format, during which 70 Ukrainian citizens convicted of collaborationist activities also went to Russia.
This exchange caused a wide public resonance, raising questions about who these people are, what their role is in the context of the conflict, and what the consequences are for Ukraine as a whole. BBC investigated this issue.

Project "I Want to Go to My Own": The Mechanism of Exchange

The Ukrainian project “I Want to Go to My Own” was created to regulate exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. It is a public list of those convicted of state treason and collaborationism who have expressed a desire to go to Russia, provided that the Russian side returns Ukrainian citizens who are in captivity.
The project is being implemented by the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, with the support of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.
The main goals of the project are:
- Publication of information about Ukrainian citizens who have cooperated with the Russian authorities.
- Providing an opportunity for citizens continuing to cooperate with the enemy to cease such activities and return home if they express a desire to stop cooperating.
- Ensuring interaction with citizens who have information about the activities of enemy agents for further disclosure of this information.
- Helping Ukrainian citizens who do not wish to live in their country but want to move to Russia (following the ship), under the condition that the exchange is carried out.
This mechanism ensures that Ukrainian citizens convicted of collaboration with Russia can leave (following the ship) for Russia, if the condition of the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity is fulfilled.

Who Are These People?

Among the 70 Ukrainian citizens who went to Russia as part of the exchange, there are representatives from various regions of the country, including Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Zaporizhzhia regions and the city of Kyiv.
The largest number of people who went to Russia in May came from Dnipropetrovsk.
Now, next to their names on the "I Want to Go to My Own" website, it is noted – "left for the Russian Federation simultaneously with the return of real Ukrainians from Russian captivity".
They waited for departure from one month to one year.
The overwhelming majority of people who went to Russia in May were convicted of transmitting coordinates of Ukrainian troops or equipment in their regions to Russian military forces via channels on Viber or Telegram.
Some of them, as the investigation claims, also acquired or received explosives or other weapons – the exact purpose of which is not stated. However, these items were found during searches of the convicted individuals.
These individuals were convicted of various forms of collaborationist activity, including:
- Collaboration with occupation authorities: Holding positions in law enforcement bodies, working in institutions controlled by the Russian authorities.
- Transmission of information: Collecting and transmitting intelligence information about the location of Ukrainian troops and equipment.
- Propaganda activities: Distributing materials justifying the actions of the Russian army and discrediting the Ukrainian government.
Examples of the Convicted:
- Viktor Kyrylov, 59 years old, from the Kherson region — became a police officer in the occupied region and worked as a driver at a local police department.
- Vladimir Nazarov, 52 years old, from Dnipropetrovsk — actively published materials on social networks supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
- Petro Hresko, 65 years old, from Ivano-Frankivsk — spread anti-Ukrainian materials on Russian social networks.
There are many such cases, but there are also more unusual stories.
For example, 66-year-old Oleksandr Tarnashynskyi from Kyiv, as the investigation claims, created various charitable foundations and public organizations in Ukraine in agreement with a Russian citizen.
Money was to be sent from Russia to these organizations, which were supposed to be used to spread appeals and materials discrediting the current Ukrainian authorities.
Also, for this money, various meetings, round tables, preparations, and signing of various memorandums and agreements were to be held, which "created favorable conditions for the further implementation of a forceful change of the constitutional order and the seizure of state power".
According to the investigation, accomplices also planned to write a letter and an appeal to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
These people became part of the exchange, leaving for Russia, but their participation caused public condemnation. The raised questions concern not only the legality of this exchange but also the moral responsibility of these individuals.

Statistics and Facts

- 31 out of 70 convicted individuals have profiles on the "I Want to Go to My Own" website.
- Among those who left for Russia, there are representatives from different regions, including Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky regions, as well as the city of Kyiv.
- The majority of these people are men, although there are several women among them.

Mechanism for the Departure of Collaborators to Russia

In order to go to Russia, a Ukrainian citizen convicted of collaborationist activities must submit an application to the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The application must clearly express the intention to go to Russia in exchange for the return of Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity. If the application is approved, the court may issue a decision to release the convicted person from punishment.
After that, the convicted person will be sent to the Ukrainian-Russian border under the supervision of law enforcement agencies, and, if the Russian side takes mirror actions, they will be allowed to go to Russia.

Risks for Ukraine

The situation with the exchange of prisoners and collaborators raises numerous questions regarding Ukraine's internal security. First and foremost, it is important to emphasize that the "I Want to Go to My Own" project plays a crucial role in ensuring the return of Ukrainian citizens, but it also raises questions of morality, justice, and further steps to ensure national security.
The process of exchanging and allowing such citizens to leave shows how important it is to maintain control over those who, despite committing crimes, want to return to a country that continues to violate international law and pose a threat to peaceful citizens.

Conclusion

The "I Want to Go to My Own" project is not just a means of returning prisoners, but an important milestone in the history of the war with Russia. It highlights issues of moral responsibility, the consequences of collaboration with the enemy, and the path to restoring justice in Ukraine. However, despite all the positive aspects of this project, it is important to consider its consequences for security and the moral side of the process.
NAnews - Israel News will continue to monitor the development of events and provide up-to-date information on this topic. https://nikk.agency/en/collaborators/