Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, recently addressed a controversial meeting with his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, which has sparked public outrage in Ukraine. The meeting, held in Belarus, was part of ongoing negotiations regarding prisoner exchanges between the two nations.
During an interview with Radio Svoboda, Lubinets clarified that the individuals seen embracing in a video from the meeting were not part of his office but rather representatives from intelligence agencies. He emphasized that the Ukrainian negotiation team employs various tactics, including the ‘good cop, bad cop’ approach, to facilitate discussions on humanitarian issues.
The meeting took place on June 5, 2026, coinciding with a scheduled prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Lubinets stated that the primary objective of the talks, which lasted over three hours, was to maintain and expand humanitarian efforts concerning individuals affected by the conflict.
Footage from the meeting showed a member of the Ukrainian delegation greeting and embracing representatives from the Russian side, prompting significant backlash among the Ukrainian public. Many viewed the gestures as inappropriate given the ongoing conflict.
Yana Lantratova, who succeeded Tatyana Moskalkova as Russia’s Human Rights Ombudsman in May 2026, has faced serious allegations in Ukraine. She and her associate, Inna Varlamova, are accused of complicity in the forced deportation of individuals under protection, particularly during a visit to the occupied city of Kherson in August 2022. Reports indicate that they were involved in the removal of two children from a local facility.
According to the Russian publication Meduza, Lantratova’s appointment was reportedly supported by filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov, indicating potential political motivations behind her selection.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, clarified the context of a controversial meeting with Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova, emphasizing the role of intelligence agencies. The meeting, aimed at facilitating humanitarian negotiations, has drawn public ire due to perceived inappropriate gestures between delegates.