A further 185 soldiers have returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity
This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Among those released are servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service. They include soldiers, sergeants and officers.
They also include servicemen who served in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv and Kursk sectors. It was also possible to secure the return of those servicemen who were taken prisoner back in 2022.
According to the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, the UAE and the US facilitated the exchange.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that during the 75th exchange, a civilian who had been held captive since 2022 also returned to Ukraine. The youngest of those released is 26, the oldest 62. Among those released are two officers.
“All those released will undergo a medical examination, receive treatment, be provided with essential items for the time being, receive appropriate payments, and undergo rehabilitation and reintegration into society following prolonged isolation in Russian captivity,” the Coordination Headquarters added.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said that all those released had been officially confirmed as prisoners of war by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Fifteen of the returned Ukrainians have birthdays this month.
“It also so happens that a father and son are returning home today — they defended Ukraine in the same brigade, and in 2022 were taken prisoner just one day apart,” he noted.
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