President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the completion of another stage in the exchange of prisoners of war, many of whom have been in captivity since 2022.
This was shared by the president via Telegram.
«We continue the exchanges, and today another group of our soldiers is returning. They include members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service. Most of them have been in captivity since 2022. We are doing everything we can to bring everyone back home,» said Zelensky.
He also expressed gratitude to everyone who is assisting Ukraine in these exchanges.
According to the Coordination Headquarters, representatives from the Navy, Ground Forces, Airborne Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, as well as soldiers from the National Guard and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine returned home.
It is noted that the vast majority of the released defenders had been held captive for more than three years, with many having been taken prisoner during the defense of Mariupol.
"Among those returned are also officers. The oldest of them is 62 years old, and the youngest is 24," wrote the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Lubinets, on Telegram.
As added by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the youngest released today was captured at the age of 21 during the defense of Mariupol.
«Today, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we have freed another group of Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity. According to agreements reached in Istanbul, fighters under the age of 25, as well as severely ill and seriously injured individuals, are returning home,» he noted.
Budanov also stated: «We continue our work. We expect good news soon. We are fighting for the return of every single person.»
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko informed that among those released in the latest prisoner exchange are individuals who were previously reported missing.
"The stories of some of them are truly miraculous. They were considered missing, but despite the uncertainty, the state continued its search efforts. And today they are with us," Klymenko noted.
The Coordination Headquarters also explained that a unique feature of today’s exchange is the successful return of young soldiers. The youngest defender is 24 years old and was captured during the defense of Mariupol in April 2022 at the age of 21.
It was also possible to free National Guardsmen who were guarding Chernobyl.
The oldest soldier returned home is 62 years old.
Among the released defenders today are also officers.
In total, Ukrainians defending the country in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Kyiv, and Sumy directions are returning home.
The released defenders will undergo necessary medical examinations, receive assistance with physical and psychological rehabilitation, and all due payments for their time in captivity, emphasized the Coordination Headquarters.
