Ukrainian ombudsman clarifies meeting with Russian counterpart; reports emerge on child recruitment, prisoner exchanges, ICC suspension, and Chornobyl occupation

Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets explained that his initial meeting with Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova prioritized establishing communication for future dialogue, rather than immediately addressing accusations regarding her alleged involvement in child deportations from Kherson. Separately, Ukrainian law enforcement has documented six instances this year where Russian special services reportedly enlisted underage girls for contract killings of Ukrainian military personnel. Human rights expert Boris Zakharov reiterated that the release of an estimated 20,000 prisoners and civilian detainees should precede negotiations, noting a recent exchange returned only one civilian among 186 Ukrainians. Meanwhile, International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was suspended pending a harassment investigation, a decision his legal team labeled "unlawful." Allegations also continue to link Rosatom employees to the occupation of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, following a reported Russian drone attack on a nuclear waste storage facility on June 7, 2026. Sources: Радіо Свобода, Громадське, Українська правда