207 Ukrainian defenders returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity
207 Ukrainians returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity (Photo: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Today, on January 31, an exchange of prisoners took place between Ukraine and Russia, and 207 Ukrainians returned home.
For preparing the material, the information from the Telegram channels of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Head of the Presidential Office, Andrii Yermak, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament, Dmytro Lubinets, and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War were used.
"Our guys are home. 207 guys. We bring them back despite everything. We remember everyone in captivity. Both military and civilians. We must return everyone. We are working on it," wrote the president.
According to Andrii Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, those who returned home are servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the National Police. Among the warriors were defenders of Mariupol who were on Azovstal, Snake Island, and those who fought on various fronts.
50th military exchange
According to Dmytro Lubinets, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament, the 50th exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia took place today.
"The guys who heard the voices of their relatives after a long time were overflowing with emotions. Families waiting for their fathers, sons, and brothers also reacted emotionally to the calls," Lubinets noted, adding that the soldiers will now have rest and rehabilitation.
Who returned home
According to the data from the Coordination Headquarters on the treatment of prisoners of war, among the saved servicemen are:
- 95 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- 56 National Guardsmen;
- 26 border guards;
- 29 Territorial Defense soldiers;
- 1 representative of the National Police.
In particular:
- 180 soldiers who returned home are from the rank and file and sergeant's personnel;
- 27 Ukrainian officers.
The oldest of the released soldiers is 61, and the youngest will turn 21 soon.
Unfortunately, 36 of the prisoners of war have injuries or serious illnesses.
Photo: 207 Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Military exchange
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory, Kyiv and Moscow have conducted a series of exchanges of prisoners of war. Despite the freezing of the process by the adversary since August, on January 3, the largest exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the war took place, with 230 defenders returning home.
On January 24, Ukraine and Russia were supposed to carry out the 50th exchange of prisoners, but it was disrupted due to the crash of an Il-76 plane near Belgorod. Russia claimed that dozens of Ukrainian prisoners were allegedly on board the plane, but Ukraine did not confirm this.
Later, the Main Intelligence Directorate noted that the disrupted exchange was supposed to be one of the largest during the war.
