New Prisoner Exchange: 84 Ukrainians Return Home
A new prisoner exchange has taken place in Ukraine, resulting in the return of 84 individuals, including both military personnel and civilians.
This information was shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky through social media, along with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Quote: "We are bringing Ukrainians back home. Today’s exchange involves 84 individuals – both military and civilian. Most of them urgently require medical assistance and rehabilitation.
Among the released civilians are those who have been held by the Russians since 2014, 2016, and 2017. Among the military are the defenders of Mariupol. I am grateful to everyone who helps us in this crucial endeavor."
The Coordination Headquarters clarifies that 33 military personnel and 51 civilians have been freed from Russian captivity.
A distinctive feature of this exchange is that it managed to secure the release of civilians and military personnel who were detained in occupied territories before the full-scale invasion and unlawfully sentenced to long prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years. One of the released individuals spent 4013 days in captivity, having been captured back in 2014.
Additionally, Ukrainians captured and sentenced by the occupiers between 2016 and 2021 are also returning home. Among the released are three women from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, one of whom is a teacher who was imprisoned in 2019.
Among the civilians released on August 14 is a 27-year-old man who was unlawfully imprisoned in 2016 when he was only 18 years old.
In addition to civilians, defenders from the Mariupol garrison, naval forces, and border guards are also returning home, including 10 officers.
Two pairs of brothers, who have been in captivity since March and April 2022, are also returning.
Many of the released individuals are facing health issues and disabilities.
The youngest among them is 26 years old, while the oldest is 74, having spent the past 7 years (since 2018) in a Russian prison.
