Defenders of Mariupol and other areas return from captivity

Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of Ukrainian soldiers from captivity. According to him, 200 Ukrainian families have received the long-awaited news that their loved ones are returning home.

Among those released are defenders from various frontline areas, including Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. The servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard of Ukraine are returning home.

The President emphasized that every return of Ukrainians from captivity is an important event for the whole country.

"Every time our people are back home, it proves that Ukraine is working to return each and every one of them. We don't forget anyone," the President said.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine engages international intermediaries in the exchange process. The President thanked the partners, in particular the United States, for their support in the exchange.

He also noted the Ukrainian military at the front, who, according to him, ensure the replenishment of the exchange fund.

As Intent previously wrote, in Pivdenoukrainsk, Mykolaiv region, the fate of missing and captured defenders was once again reminded. On March 1, the city held its 70th rally in support of Ukrainian soldiers. This time, about 40 community members joined the peaceful event.

During the last exchange of prisoners with Russia, five Ukrainian defenders from Odesa region, who had spent almost four years in Russian captivity, returned home. On February 5, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first prisoner exchange since October. 157 Ukrainians returned home, and a similar number of occupants were sent to Russia. This is the 71st exchange to date. 150 soldiers and seven civilians returned home. 139 of the released Ukrainian citizens had been in Russian captivity since 2022.

Андрій Колісніченко