205 Ukrainian soldiers returned from captivity

The first stage of the "1000 for 1000" exchange took place in accordance with the agreements reached with the mediation of the United States, and 205 Ukrainian prisoners returned home.

According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War<span>, almost all of the servicemen released today had been held captive for four years. </span>

<span>Most of them were captured during the defense of Mariupol. The length of time in captivity is the key principle for the formation of the 1000 for 1000 exchange lists. </span> In addition to soldiers and sergeants, more than fifty officers were brought home. Among those released today is a National Guard officer who was captured at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The youngest released defender is 21 years old, the oldest is 62 years old. In total, Ukrainians who fought in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kyiv sectors are returning home.

The liberated defenders will be taken to medical centers to undergo all necessary examinations, further treatment and medical rehabilitation. They will be provided with the necessary assistance, documents and appropriate monetary payments.

In April, 12 soldiers from Odesa region returned from Russian captivity as part of one of the latest exchanges. Three were from Odesa, as well as residents of Berezovsky, Izmail, Podolsk and Rozdilnyansky districts.

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 this exchange was that it was possible to return from captivity boys born in 2000, as well as defenders with injuries. Most of those released were illegally detained on the territory of Chechnya. Criminal cases were fabricated against some of them, which is a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

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.

Кирило Бойко