Ukraine returns 100 more war prisoners from Russian captivity

Another 100 Ukrainian soldiers returned from Russian captivity with the efforts of the UAE, says President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The soldiers from National Guard, Border Guard Service and territorial defenses are finally home. Yet, no Azov regiment troops, which Ukrainians have been demanding Russia to return since the end of Mariupol siege, were on the list. 

According to the Coordination Headquarters, the rescued servicemen include 49 soldiers of the National Guard, 25 border guards, 26 soldiers of the Armed Forces, and 11 territorial defense soldiers.

"All the liberated soldiers are privates and sergeants. 84 of the rescued soldiers were defending Mariupol (including 82 defenders of Azovstal), the rest performed combat missions in the Donetsk and Luhansk sectors."

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that the exchange that took place on January 3 was the largest in terms of the number of returned troops.

Among the 230 Ukrainians released were six civilians who had been illegally imprisoned.

In total, 2,828 Ukrainians have been released from Russian captivity during the full-scale war, and this process will continue.