Ukraine returns 95 servicemen from Russian captivity, some illegally convicted in Russia

The exchange of prisoners that took place on the night of October 19 allowed 95 Ukrainian defenders to return home.

This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

According to the headquarters, this is the 58th exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the invasion. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the peculiarity of this exchange is that many Ukrainians who received so-called "sentences" from the aggressor country's judicial system and were "convicted" are returning home: 28 to long terms, and 20 to life imprisonment for defending their own land from the aggressor.

Among those released from captivity today are National Guardsmen, Armed Forces soldiers, border guards and representatives of other units of the Security and Defense Forces.

A total of 69 soldiers and sergeants and 26 officers. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, 42 of those who returned are employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including seven officers. 38 are members of the National Guard of Ukraine. Two more are police officers and two border guards.

Also among the released prisoners is journalist, human rights activist, co-founder of Hromadske Radio and the Zmina Human Rights Center Maksym Butkevych. Maksym Butkevych said that the news of the exchange was unexpected - he learned about it by accident on the way.

Earlier, on September 14, a large exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine took place, and 103 soldiers who had been captured by the occupiers returned home. Then 103 soldiers were exchanged - 82 privates and sergeants. 21 officers.

On September 13, 49 heroes finally returned home. Among them are 23 women who were illegally detained by Russia. This is the largest number of women exchanged in recent times.

In August, 22 prisoners were returned to Ukraine. In July, 45 of our prisoners were returned to Ukraine. Among them are soldiers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and two civilians. In June, 95 of our people were returned to Ukraine. The list includes soldiers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and border guards.

Кирило Бойко