Ukraine Returns 95 More Citizens from Russian Captivity

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the return of 95 more Ukrainians from Russian captivity, 20 of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment in Russia. Among them are 34 Azov servicemen who defended Mariupol for almost three months, as well as human rights activist, journalist and military officer Maksym Butkevych, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in Russia.

‘95 of our people are home again. The soldiers who defended Mariupol and Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kherson regions.  Every time Ukraine rescues its people from Russian captivity, we bring the day when freedom will be restored to all those in Russian captivity closer. I am grateful to the team involved in the search and release of the prisoners. We are doing everything we can to get all of our people held by Russia out. I am grateful to the soldiers who replenish the exchange fund and to all partners who help,’ the President of Ukraine said.

The Security Service of Ukraine published exclusive footage of the prisoner exchange.

‘This is the result of the work of the Joint Centre for Coordination of Search and Release of Prisoners of War, which implemented the decision of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The life of every Ukrainian is the highest value! We are working to fulfil the order of the President of Ukraine and return every Ukrainian from captivity!’ - the SSU said in a statement.