Ukraine Returns 49 More Military and Civilians from Russian Captivity
Ukraine has returned 49 more military and civilians from Russian captivity, including 23 women for the first time in a long time.
This was reported on social media by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
‘Another return of our people, which we are always waiting for and working for. 49 Ukrainians are home. These are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, as well as our civilians. In particular, Leniye Umerova, a girl who was taken hostage by the Russians when she came to take care of her sick father. We also managed to free some more Azovstal defenders. The Hero of Ukraine, military medic Viktor Ivchuk is also home,’ the president wrote.
Source: fb-Zelenskyy-official
The Coordination Headquarters notes that this exchange is special because for the first time in a long time, Ukrainian women were released from captivity: there are 23 of them among the released. In particular, these are Ukrainian civilians who were detained and illegally imprisoned by Russians before the full-scale invasion.
We also managed to release women who had been subjected to inhumane treatment, including through forced participation in the so-called ‘trial’ of Mariupol defenders.
Source: fb-Zelenskyy-official
Olena Tolkacheva, head of the Azov brigade's patronage service, confirmed that 28 Azov soldiers have been returned in the current exchange. This is a group of mostly women returning home after more than 2 years of captivity.
Crimean Tatar activist Leniye Umerova, who was captured by Russians while crossing the border of Georgia, was also released. The Hero of Ukraine, Colonel of the Medical Service Viktor Ivchuk, who led the military hospital in Mariupol during the most difficult times, is also returning home.
Among those released are 23 soldiers and sergeants and 19 officers. Eight are representatives of the Armed Forces, two from the National Police, four border guards, 13 sailors, 15 defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal from the National Guard. The remaining seven are civilians.
‘The liberated defenders defended our land in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson sectors.
Source: fb-Zelenskyy-official
Ukraine is grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their assistance in organising another exchange,’ Zelenskyy said.
‘All those released from Russian captivity will undergo a medical examination, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation, all due payments for the entire period of captivity and reintegrate into society.
As The Gaze previously reported, on 24 August, on Ukraine's Independence Day, with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates, Kyiv returned 115 Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity.