A rally in support of prisoners was held in Odesa

A rally to commemorate prisoners of war and missing Ukrainian defenders was held in Odesa on June 8.

Odesa residents took to the streets to remind the city's defenders who have not yet returned home from Russian captivity, Novyny.LIVE reported.

The main goal of the protesters is to be the voice of those who have been away from home for a long time. Relatives and friends of Ukrainian defenders who were captured or went missing during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine took to the streets of Odesa with posters to remind them of the soldiers who have not yet returned to their homeland.

Anna Pazhera, the organizer of the action in support of prisoners of war, said that every Sunday they gather to remind their relatives and friends who are in enemy captivity, including the Azov regiment, which has been in the clutches of the occupiers for four years.

The Free Azov rally in Odesa was attended by the mother of a prisoner of war who was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Russian occupiers.

Earlier, the action in support of prisoners and to remind about missing persons, which has become a tradition and takes place every week, was held in Odesa on May 25. Then the FreeAzov campaign started with a car rally: a convoy of cars decorated with flags and photos of the defenders drove through the streets of the city. The participants wanted to draw attention to the soldiers' long stay in captivity, especially to the situation of the Azovs, who have not been included in any exchange lists for almost four years.

On May 25, the final stage of the large thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange took place, with 303 prisoners returned to Ukraine.

On May 24, the second stage of a large prisoner exchange with the Russian Federation in the 1000-for-1000 format took place, and 307 defenders returned to Ukraine.

On May 23, the first stage of a large prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. The exchange is conducted in a 1000-for-1000 format and will last three days. Then 307 prisoners returned - 270 military and 120 civilians.

Кирило Бойко