The Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, reported to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the details of preparations for a special operation to secure the release of civilians who were held in Belarus.

This was stated in the President’s message on December 13.

“Thanks to the active role of the United States and cooperation between our intelligence services, around one hundred people are currently being released, including five Ukrainians. We are assisting our American partners so that there is appropriate assistance for Ukraine. If necessary, the special services of our European neighbors are also involved”, — he wrote.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed that efforts be maximized so that the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war could take place by the end of the year.

“I instructed the Main Intelligence Directorate and all services represented in our Coordination Headquarters to maximize efforts in the Russian direction so that the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war could take place before the New Year. We remember all our people who are still in Russian captivity. I thank everyone who is helping to bring Ukrainians home”, — the Head of State summarized.