Ukraine releases 95 defenders from captivity: first footage of the meeting
19 October 2024 01:15
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Ukraine and Russia conducted the 58th exchange of prisoners of war on the night of 19 October. They managed to return 95 Ukrainian defenders home. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The liberated soldiers defended Mariupol and Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kherson regions.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that the peculiarity of this exchange is that many Ukrainians who received illegal sentences and were “convicted” are returning home.
Thus, 28 defenders were sentenced to long terms, and 20 to life imprisonment.
Among those released from captivity today are National Guardsmen, sailors, soldiers of the Armed Forces, border guards and representatives of other units of the Security and Defence Forces.
In particular, it is known that human rights activist Maksim Butkevich has returned home .
“Our guys were defending Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Kherson regions. Among those released are 69 soldiers and sergeants and 26 officers. Many of our released men have serious illnesses and the consequences of severe injuries, as well as severe weight loss due to torture and malnutrition,” the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.
According to the Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, this is the 58th exchange. Currently, there are a large number of people who have been held captive since the first days of the full-scale war.
“Most Ukrainians return with injuries and illnesses. The Ombudsman’s Office is present at the exchange site to record the condition of the returnees. They also inform the defenders about their rights in the future, including rehabilitation, social and medical care. This is an important aspect of our work!” he stressed.
Lubinets emphasised that all Ukrainians are currently in need of physical and psychological rehabilitation.
