The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed a special ambassador to address issues related to prisoners of war, civilians deprived of personal freedom, and the missing. Diplomat Dmytro Ponomarenko has been designated for this role, as announced on the ministry’s official Telegram channel.
Ponomarenko brings extensive experience in fostering Ukraine’s relations with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, having served as Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea from 2021 to 2025, along with concurrent duties in Mongolia.
In his new position, the special ambassador will coordinate efforts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify effective international legal and diplomatic mechanisms to influence Russia. This includes initiatives aimed at preventing torture and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as facilitating the release of Ukrainian defenders and civilians currently held unlawfully.
Additionally, Ponomarenko will oversee collaboration with international partners to safeguard the rights of missing Ukrainians.
The Ministry has also indicated that, following agreements with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the Public Council associated with the headquarters, a joint action plan for 2026 has been prepared. This plan includes advocacy measures to enhance international pressure for the release of Ukrainian captives.
The Ukrainian government has appointed Dmytro Ponomarenko as a special ambassador to manage issues related to prisoners of war and missing persons. His role will focus on coordinating diplomatic efforts and international collaboration to secure the rights and release of affected individuals.