Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Yurii Myronenko, said this during an event dedicated to the anniversary of the Public…
Among the 157 Ukrainians who returned home, there are 7 civilians and 18 defenders whom the enemy had sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
This was reported on February 5 by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
“Returning home are service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including representatives of the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense, Air Assault Forces, Air Force, as well as the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service. Besides soldiers and sergeants, officers were also freed.
Another important feature of this exchange is that 18 defenders whom the Russians sentenced to long terms of imprisonment are returning to Ukraine.
The vast majority of the freed are enlisted personnel. Sixteen officers have also returned home.
The oldest freed warrior is 63, the youngest are 23. Different generations and different fates, but united values.
Also home is a Defender who yesterday, on February 4, turned 28. My sincere congratulations on returning home on such a symbolic date!” — Lubinets wrote.
According to him, those released from captivity are in a difficult psychological state, and some have critically low body weight.
“All this was documented by staff of the Ombudsman’s Office present at the exchange site. Our team monitors compliance with the Geneva Conventions, accompanies the return process, and informs the freed individuals of their rights”, — Lubinets added.
He reminded that today’s exchange is the result of long, difficult, and persistent work by negotiation groups between Ukraine and Russia, carried out by Ukrainian state bodies within the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Lubinets thanked the USA and the UAE for helping organize the exchange and return both civilian and military Ukrainians.
