Ukraine and Russia Conduct One of the Largest Exchanges of Prisoners of War (Photos, Videos)

Irina Pogorelaya, Tanya Polyakovskaya17:10, 30.12.24

Among those released are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Zmeinogo Island, from different directions of the front.

On New Year’s Eve, Ukraine freed 189 defenders from Russian captivity .

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of those days: our team managed to return 189 Ukrainians home,” he commented.

Among the released soldiers are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Zmeinoye Island, from different directions of the front. Among them are soldiers, sergeants, officers. According to Zelensky, these are national guardsmen, including Azov soldiers, border guards, territorial defense forces, soldiers of the Navy and the Armed Forces. And also two civilians who were captured in Mariupol. “Everyone has relatives and friends waiting for them at home. And it is a joy that we managed to get them back. Today, another 189 families are happy,” the head of state stated.

“We are working to free each and every one of us from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone. Thanks to the team that is doing everything to ensure that our people return. Thanks to all partners, including the UAE, who are helping us with this,” Zelensky emphasized.

At the same time, the Telegram channel of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War notes that this is one of the largest exchanges conducted by the Headquarters since the full-scale invasion.

Thus, the 11th exchange in 2024 allowed the dismissal of: 87 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (including 17 from the Territorial Defense), 43 from the National Guard of Ukraine, 33 from the State Border Service and 24 from the Navy.

“In addition to Mariupol and Zmeinoye Island, the dismissed defended Ukraine in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Kherson directions, and the National Guard served to protect the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. We also returned those who were captured in Kursk region,” the statement says.

The Coordination Headquarters added that this time 173 privates and sergeants and 14 officers were dismissed.

It is emphasized that many Ukrainian citizens were in Russian captivity for more than 2.5 years. The defenders have chronic diseases, consequences of mine-explosive injuries and serious wounds.

The Headquarters also recalled that the largest return home of Ukrainian defenders occurred on January 3 of this year. Then, 230 people were returned home.

In total, 3,956 people have already returned from Russian captivity as part of the work of the Coordination Headquarters on behalf of the President of Ukraine, of which 1,358 in 2024.

Ukraine Frees 189 People from Russian Captivity

Exchange of prisoners of war

On December 7, Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced that there could be positive news on the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity before the New Year , but did not rule out that the aggressor could disrupt the agreements. At that time, he noted that the main mediator in the issue of the return of prisoners of war is the United Arab Emirates.

The last exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was held in mid-October. At that time, Ukraine returned 95 servicemen from Russian captivity . “The peculiarity of this exchange is that many Ukrainians who received so-called “sentences” from the judicial system of the aggressor country and were “convicted” are returning home: 28 to long terms, and 20 to life imprisonment for defending their own land from the aggressor,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented at the time.

(C)UNIAN 2024