12 defenders returned from captivity to Odesa region

As part of one of the latest exchanges, 12 soldiers from Odesa region have returned from Russian captivity.

This was announced by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper.

Three residents of Odesa, as well as residents of Berezivka, Izmail, Podil and Rozdilne districts.

"After a difficult ordeal, our guys are finally home, close to their families and comrades. Recovery is ahead, but the most important thing is that they are safe," emphasized the head of the OVA.

On April 24, the Coordination Headquarters conducted another exchange of prisoners on behalf of the President, returning 193 Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity. The peculiarity of the current exchange is that it was possible to return from captivity boys born in 2000, as well as defenders with injuries. Most of the released men were illegally detained on the territory of Chechnya. Criminal cases were fabricated against some of them, which is a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Among the released soldiers are representatives of the Armed Forces, including a significant number of paratroopers. Soldiers from the Navy, the Army, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service are also returning home. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, several officers were released.

On April 11, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange that resulted in the return of 182 Ukrainians, including 175 military and seven civilians. Among them were 25 officers whom Russia had previously categorically refused to exchange. More than half of the liberated defenders were captured during the defense of Mariupol. Several members of the National Guard, who were captured during the occupation of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in the first days of the full-scale invasion, also returned home. The youngest released was 22 years old, the oldest was 63 years old.

Кирило Бойко