Sept. 15, 2024, 7:17 p.m.
(Photo: Intent/Iryna Glukhova)
A group of Odesa residents came out for a traditional rally to remind of those Ukrainian soldiers who are still in captivity of the occupiers.
The actions take place almost every Sunday, sometimes accompanied by performances.
The activists are relatives of the prisoners and they remind that the Azov battalion fighters are still in captivity. The action was attended by several dozen Odessans who stood on Deribasovskaya Street in the center of Odesa. This time, no posters calling for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, were seen.
The day before, a prisoner exchange took place. This time, 38 National Guardsmen were released. The Armed Forces managed to return 28 soldiers: two from the Kraken special forces, two from the International Legion, three from the Special Operations Forces, and one from the Territorial Defense Forces. Eight border guards, four policemen, twenty-one sailors, three representatives of the State Special Transport Service, and one from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are going home. A total of 103 people.
On September 13, 49 heroes returned home. Among them are 23 women who were held by Russia. This is the largest number of women exchanged in recent times.
On September 1, a group of Odesa residents held a traditional rally to remind of those Ukrainian soldiers who are still in captivity of the occupiers. The actions take place almost every Sunday, sometimes accompanied by performances.
In July, the families of captured Ukrainian soldiers gathered on the embankment of Lanzheron Beach in Odesa, demanding the release of their loved ones held by Russia. The event began with a minute of silence and a prayer for the release of prisoners of war. The participants of the action brought posters with various appeals: "Where is Azov", "Give them back their lives", "My heart is in captivity", "They also want to be free".
In Odesa, on June 15, relatives and friends of the captured military held a rally on Deribasovskaya Street to demand the release of the prisoners as soon as possible.
Кирило Бойко