Efforts to Secure Prisoner Returns: Ukraine's Recent Achievements
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to return 5,857 individuals from captivity, and an additional 555 remain unexchanged.
This information was shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with representatives of organizations involved in prisoner release efforts.
«Today, I met with nearly all members of our team who are dedicated to freeing prisoners and providing them assistance. The meeting included representatives from the headquarters, services involved in exchanges, the Office of the President, and our heroes who have been released from Russian captivity, including defenders from various front lines, particularly from Mariupol, the «Azov» fighters, as well as our paramedic Taira and Lenia Umerova, a civilian captured in Crimea», - noted Zelensky.
The President expressed gratitude to all participants of the meeting. Attendees honored the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives due to the Russian attack in Olenivka.
«We discussed the most crucial issue: bringing all our people home and the current status of exchanges. We do not stop for a single day. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, we have returned a total of 5,857 individuals alive from captivity. Outside of exchanges, there are still 555 people. As a result of exchanges in Istanbul, over a thousand of our soldiers have been returned. We also hope to free those civilians who are still held in Russia», - emphasized Zelensky.
According to him, it is vital to continue exchanges and verify the situation regarding each name.
«Each person is important. I am grateful to everyone who is doing their utmost to make exchanges possible and to all those who provide assistance. I also thank our military, who are replenishing the exchange fund for Ukraine», - stressed Zelensky.