I'm home, in Ukraine: Freed soldier's tearful reunion with mom
First call after release from captivity –to beloved mother (screenshot: facebook.com/dmytro.lubinets)
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, shared a touching video on Facebook featuring a Ukrainian man who had just been freed from enemy captivity and was hearing his mother's voice for the first time in a long time.
What the freed Ukrainian said
"Mom is the dearest person I have. Thank you for being there," Lubinets quoted.
He noted that the first phone call the released prisoner made on his native soil was filled with joy and happiness.
"May every mother receive the long-awaited news. We work for this every single day," emphasized the ombudsman.
In the published footage, the freed young man can be seen barely holding back his emotions during the call with his mother.
He tells her he has returned from captivity and is already back on Ukrainian soil. He promises to come home as soon as possible and thanks her for her love and support.
"I love you so much! I'm waiting to see you. Thank you! I love you, kisses, Mom. You're the most precious person I have. Thank you for being there," the young man says, trying to hold back tears during the joyful conversation.
Earlier today, Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country managed to bring home wounded, severely injured individuals, as well as people under 25.
He mentioned that this marks the beginning of a multi-phase exchange process that will continue over the next few days.
Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets clarified that those returned today were mostly under the age of 25 (primarily born in 2000) – soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard, and Territorial Defense Forces.
He added that the vast majority had been in captivity since 2022, including those captured during the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Meanwhile, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that all Ukrainians returned today from Russian captivity were enlisted or non-commissioned personnel.
Previously, we informed you about the Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul—what the delegations agreed on during their latest meeting and what to expect next.
