Ukraine has returned over 4,000 people from Russian captivity, Zelenskyy says
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Over more than three years of full-scale war, Ukraine has returned 4,306 citizens from Russian captivity, stated the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his address to the participants of the conference of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
"More than three years, almost the entire time of this war, our Coordination Headquarters has been working – all the services that return prisoners. More than 4,000 people have been returned – 4,306. And we will return everyone," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the release of prisoners is one of the first steps to ending the war.
"Now, when we are talking with the American side and other partners about how to end the war, we are talking about the release of prisoners as one of the first steps. We believe that this should definitely be," the President emphasized.
The head of state thanked "all the partners who support us in this, and everyone in Ukraine and the world who keeps the issue of prisoners in the informational agenda."
"I am grateful to the teamwork of the Presidential Office, the Defense Intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ombudsman, and everyone else involved, thanks to whom Ukrainians are returning. We always bring our people back, and this is one of the most important rules of our state. This is how it is and will be," Zelenskyy added.
Prisoner exchanges
The last prisoner exchange with Russia took place on 19 March. 175 defenders returned from enemy captivity, and another 22 Ukrainians returned home.
The previous prisoner exchange took place on 5 February. Then Ukraine returned 150 citizens from Russian captivity. Among those who returned were soldiers, sergeants, and officers.
