Not single Azov fighter freed in 1,000-for-1,000 POWs exchange - Commander of Azov Brigade
Photo: Commander of the 1st Corps of Azov National Guard of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko (facebook.com)
The latest large-scale prisoner exchange did not include a single Ukrainian fighter from the Azov Brigade, despite hopes for their release, Commander of the 1st Corps of Azov National Guard of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko states.
Ukrainian military noted that during the large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 POWs exchange, not a single Azov fighter was released.
"Among the one thousand Ukrainian prisoners of war exchanged today, there is not a single Azov fighter," Prokopenko emphasized.
At the same time, the Commander of the 1st Corps of Azov recalled that just a few days ago, Ukraine marked the third anniversary of the Mariupol garrison's withdrawal from Azovstal, hoping that among those announced for the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange would be fighters from the 12th Azov Brigade.
"Those hopes did not come true," Prokopenko added.
Return of Azov fighters
Recently Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov responded to a question about whether Azov fighters would be included in the lists for the major prisoner exchange.
At the time, the Minister stated that the prisoner exchange lists with Russia in the 1,000-for-1,000 format include POWs from all components of the Defense Forces, as well as civilians.
1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange
During negotiations in Türkiye on May 16, delegations from Ukraine and Russia agreed to carry out a large-scale prisoner exchange in the 1,000-for-1,000 format.
Due to its scale, the exchange was conducted over several days and in multiple stages, beginning on Friday, May 23.
In the first stage, 390 people were released from Russian captivity: 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. Among them were servicemen from the Navy, Airborne Assault Forces, National Guard, Territorial Defense Forces, and Border Guard Service.
Yesterday, the second day of the large-scale exchange took place, and Ukraine returned 307 military personnel. Among them were 27 defenders of Mariupol, and for the first time, fighters from several specific military units were released from captivity.
As of today, another 303 Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity. Among them were 70 fighters who defended Mariupol.
RBC-Ukraine also published exclusive footage of the large-scale prisoner exchange, which was released by the Security Service of Ukraine.
