GUR Returns Three Ukrainian Sailors from Yemeni Captivity (Video)

The Ukrainians were held captive for 14 months.

In Odessa, relatives met Ukrainian sailors rescued from Yemeni captivity . The Ukrainians were freed thanks to an operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

“I still don’t realize that I’m already home… I am very grateful to everyone involved, and especially to the representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate. They were the first to contact us. After this conversation, there was no longer any doubt or fear – they know about us, they will return us,” noted one of the released sailors, Vitaly.

The Main Intelligence Directorate recalled that it was possible to return home the crew members of the Galaxy Leader vessel, who had been held captive by the Yemeni Houthis for 14 months, since November 2023.

“What happened today is the result of the coordinated, long-term work of a large number of people. The special operation was carried out on the instructions of the President of Ukraine and thanks to the comprehensive support of the Royal Office of the Sultanate of Oman,” added the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Olga Mosendz, during a meeting of sailors at the Odessa Regional State Administration.

Return of Ukrainians from captivity

Earlier, Hero of Ukraine Denis Prokopenko stated that a soldier of the Azov Brigade returned from captivity in the Russian Federation in extremely grave condition. According to Prokopenko, the freed soldier has an open form of tuberculosis.

It was also reported that on December 30, Ukraine and the Russian Federation conducted one of the largest exchanges of prisoners of war . In particular, Ukraine managed to return 189 of its people.

(C)UNIAN 2025