Ukraine returned 215 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders
In particular, 108 soldiers of the Azov Regiment and other formations of the National Guard of Ukraine, as well as military personnel of the Land and Navy, Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces, State Border Service, National Police, SBU employees, the State Secret Service of Transport, the State Customs Service were dismissed.
“Among the released-Azov Commander, Hero of Ukraine Denis Prokopenko (“ Redis ”), Sergey Volynskyi (“ Volyn ”), Acting Commander of the 36th Separate Brigade of Marines, Svyatoslav Palamar (Azov), Oleg Khomenko (Azov), Denis Slega from the National Guard of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine Yevgeny Bova, Commander of the 1st Separate Battalion of Marines. Kateryna Polishchuk ("Bird") returns, ”Andrey Yermak said.
Mariana Mamonova, Yana Shumovetska and Anastasia Chernenko, who were captured, were liberated by the defenders. "This is the most powerful result in the release of prisoners during the full -scale invasion of all time," the presidential office said. The temporary acting chairman of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk, Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence Dmitry Usov and the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets met 200 released Ukrainians.
“We exchanged 200 citizens of Ukraine today for Mr. Medvedchuk. I would like to point out that Medvedchuk is not just Putin's godfather, but a qualitatively documented state traitor. His guilt is fully fixed in the relevant materials, ”Vasyl Malyuk said. He noted that during the work of Viktor Medvedchuk's affairs, a number of agent networks were deprived, state traitors were detained and a large amount of information used in counterintelligence was obtained.
In addition, five more citizens were released by exchange for 55 Russian prisoners. Almost all of them have already been released in Ukraine, except for five Azov commanders, who, according to the agreements reached earlier with President Recep Taiip Erdogan, are in Turkey under his personal defense guarantees. Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kirill Budanov and Minister of Internal Affairs Denis Monastyrsky along with five Azov.
“I congratulate you, our guys, our heroes, with a return. Glad to see everyone after we were only on the phone. We are extremely proud of what you have done for our country. We are proud of each of you, ”said Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a video clip with the released defenders of Azovstal. The head of state noted that now in Turkey they are safe, and the next step is their return to their homeland. "Glory to Ukraine! Mr. President, we all have a good health, satisfactory.
Thank you and the whole team, ”said Azov regiment commander Denis Prokopenko. The soldiers thanked the team and the Ukrainian people on behalf of all Azovstal defenders. Kirill Budanov reported to the Head of State to complete the next stage of exchange of prisoners of war and assured that work on the release of all Ukrainian citizens was ongoing.
In addition, at the request of international partners, Ukraine achieved the release of ten foreigners-defenders of Ukraine, citizens of five partner states. On September 21, the liberated defenders-foreigners were sent to Saudi Arabia. With them is the head of the State Property Fund Rustem Umerov. “This is an extraordinary success, and I am grateful to everyone involved in this operation - everyone who has done this titanic work. I sincerely congratulate our heroes on returning home.
We will provide them with all the necessary help-medical, social and any other. We work further on the liberation of all our citizens, who are held captive by the occupiers, ”said Andrei Yermak. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this operation was prepared for a long time and carefully.
He expressed his gratitude to the President of Turkey, as well as to all who dealt with this issue on the Ukrainian side, including the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, the head of GUR Kirill Budanov, the head of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the SPMU and Dmitry Lubin. “Thank you guys. I think it is a really great victory for our country, for our whole society.
And most importantly - for the families of our defenders who will be able to see their loved ones in safe, ”said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President noted that, according to his information, many prisoners were doomed to the death penalty, so the release saved their lives. The head of state also stressed that Ukraine remembers all its citizens and will try to save every Ukrainian. “We will do our best to save everyone who is in Russian captivity.