He made the statement at a press conference, according to Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko."An investigation is currently ongoing into the execution of 268 Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces. We’re seeing a sharp rise in this number over the past year," said Dmytro Lubinets.He added that in Russia, such actions “don’t happen without direct approval from the top leadership.”"We understand this treatment of Ukrainian prisoners is sanctioned from the top. Sadly, we see it happening in real time," Lubinets said.Lubinets also stated that Ukraine has carried out 65 exchanges, bringing home 5,757 prisoners of war, 294 civilian hostages, and 1,378 children.He added that Ukraine had also secured the return of 120 civilians from Russia, not through an exchange, but as a separate and unconditional handover.