President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful completion of a new stage in the prisoner exchange process, involving Ukrainian soldiers who have been held captive for more than three years.
The head of state shared this information via his Telegram channel.
«We continue our exchange operations. Today, defenders of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Service are returning home. Most of them have been in captivity since 2022. Our goal is to bring everyone back home», - stated Zelensky.
He also expressed gratitude to everyone who supports Ukraine in the exchange process.
The Coordination Center for Prisoners of War reported that representatives from the Naval Forces, Ground Forces, Airborne Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, as well as National Guard and State Border Service members have returned to Ukraine.
It was noted that the vast majority of the released defenders today had been held in captivity for over three years, with a significant number captured during the defense of Mariupol.
"Among those returned are officers. The oldest among them is 62 years old, and the youngest is 24 years old”, - wrote the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, on Telegram.
As noted by the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, the youngest of those 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, another group of Ukrainian defenders has been liberated from Russian captivity. According to the agreements reached in Istanbul, fighters aged up to 25, as well as those who are seriously ill or severely wounded, are returning», - he remarked.
Budanov also stated: «We are continuing our work. We expect good news soon. We are fighting for the return of everyone».
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, informed that among those released in this latest prisoner exchange are individuals who were previously considered missing.
"The stories of some of them are truly miraculous. They were thought to be missing, but despite the uncertainty, the state continued its search efforts. Today, they are with us”, - noted Klymenko.
The Coordination Center also reported that a specific feature of today’s exchange phase was the successful return of young soldiers. The youngest defender is 24 years old, who was captured during the defense of Mariupol in April 2022, at the age of 21.
Additionally, it was possible to free National Guard members who were guarding Chernobyl.
The oldest soldier returned to the homeland is 62 years old.
Among those released today are also officers.
In total, Ukrainians who defended the country in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Kyiv, and Sumy directions are coming back home.
The released defenders will undergo necessary medical examinations, receive assistance with physical and psychological rehabilitation, and will also receive all due payments for the time spent in captivity, emphasized the Coordination Center.
