"These are the military – defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Snake Island, from various fronts. Among them are soldiers, sergeants, and officers. They include National Guardsmen, including Azov fighters, border guards, territorial defense members, and warriors of the Navy and Armed Forces. Additionally, there are two civilians who were captured in Mariupol. Each of them is awaited by their loved ones. It is a joy that we managed to bring them back. Today, another 189 families are happy," wrote the head of state.
As Zelensky noted, Ukraine is working to free every individual from Russian captivity.
"This is our goal. We do not forget anyone. I thank the team that is doing everything possible to bring our people back. Thank you to all our partners, especially the UAE, who assist us in this," the president emphasized.
This is one of the largest exchanges since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, emphasized the coordinating headquarters for POW affairs on Facebook.
"The 11th exchange in 2024 allowed for the release of: 87 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (of which 17 are from Territorial Defense), 43 from the National Guard, 33 from the State Border Guard Service, and 24 from the Navy. Additionally, two civilians were returned from captivity," the message states. "In addition to Mariupol and Snake Island, the freed individuals defended Ukraine in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson directions, while National Guardsmen were on duty protecting the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. We also managed to return those who were captured in the Kursk region."
As reported by the coordinating headquarters for POW affairs, many Ukrainians had been in Russian captivity for more than two and a half years.
"The defenders have acute chronic illnesses, consequences of mine-explosive injuries, and severe wounds," the statement says.
In total, with the assistance of the UAE, it was possible to release 173 privates and sergeants and 14 officers.
Video from the 59th prisoner exchange since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion has been published on the Telegram channel of the coordinating headquarters.