Zelenskyy vows stronger protection and support for freed POWs
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
A new draft law is being prepared in Ukraine to ensure protection and proper recovery for Ukrainians released from Russian captivity, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Zelenskyy, he held a meeting today following up on his recent encounter with Ukrainians who had been freed from Russian captivity.
"On Monday, there was a very meaningful meeting with many issues discussed: rehabilitation after captivity, ensuring full rights, restoring documents, and social reintegration. One particularly sensitive issue is the return of civilian hostages," he said.
Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak reported on the decisions already developed by the Coordination Headquarters and currently being implemented.
"A draft law is also being prepared to provide protection and proper recovery after captivity, including for illnesses acquired while in captivity. Therefore, it is only fair that this assistance be equal to that provided for illnesses acquired during service in the Defense Forces," Zelenskyy stated.
He also noted that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko gave a report on the rehabilitation of former prisoners.
"The Head of the Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, reported on preparations for upcoming prisoner exchanges — I hope that everything will work out and that we will be able to implement all of this. I thank everyone who cares for Ukraine, who works, who fights for our country," the President added.
Prisoner exchanges
All rounds of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have concluded with significant prisoner exchanges. Initially, the format was 1,000 for 1,000, and later an agreement was reached to exchange all severely wounded, seriously ill, as well as prisoners of war aged 18 to 25.
The Ukrainian side has stated that it will not disclose the number of returned prisoners until all exchanges under the current agreement are completed.
However, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, announced that since the beginning of the second round of exchanges, more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been returned home.
At the same time, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 5,857 Ukrainians have been brought back home. An additional 555 people were released outside of formal exchange procedures
