Ukraine returns 103 defenders from Russian captivity
On September 14, Ukraine successfully carried out a new prisoner exchange, bringing 103 Ukrainian soldiers back home from Russian captivity.
This was reported by Rubryka, citing President Volodymyr Zelensky's Telegram and the Azov Patronage Service.
According to the President, the exchange was made possible with the support of the United Arab Emirates, who mediated the negotiations.
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
Zelensky emphasized that the released soldiers include those who defended Kyiv, Donetsk, Mariupol, Azovstal, as well as the Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
A total of 82 privates and sergeants, along with 21 officers, have returned to Ukraine. These include servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the border service, and police officers.
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
The Azov Patronage Service noted that among those released are 23 soldiers from the "Azov" regiment.
"Today, 23 Azov soldiers are returning to their homeland after more than two years in captivity," the statement emphasized.
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
"The returnees require extensive rehabilitation, as their health has significantly deteriorated during captivity. I thank the state authorities for their coordinated efforts, particularly the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the Joint Center for the Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War and Illegally Detained Persons due to aggression against Ukraine by the SBU," the Ukrainian ombudsman emphasized.
According to the Coordination Headquarters, most of those released today suffer from severe injuries, wounds, and serious illnesses, meaning they need immediate medical assistance. It took a long time to secure the release of these Heroes from captivity.
Photo: Telegram / Zelenskiy / Official
One of the released defenders recited a heartfelt poem to his mother after returning from captivity, making the moment even more emotional.
"Weakened, but unconquered! 103 Defenders have been freed from Russian captivity—brave warriors who endured unimaginable trials. Ukraine fought for each one, and today they are finally home. We continue to work towards freeing everyone," emphasized the Coordination Headquarters.
The Russian side also confirmed the exchange, stating that in the "103 for 103" format, they retrieved their soldiers who had been captured by Ukraine during the hostilities in the Kursk region. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, their personnel were transferred to Belarus following the exchange.
This exchange is another important step toward the release of all Ukrainian prisoners and underscores the crucial role of international support in these negotiations.
It is worth noting that just a day prior, on September 13, another significant exchange took place. Forty-nine heroes, including 23 women who were illegally detained by Russia, finally returned home. This marked the largest number of women exchanged in recent times.
Earlier, on August 24, another exchange resulted in the release of nine defenders who had been illegally convicted and held by Russia. The exchange saw the return of soldiers from the National Guard and the Armed Forces, including military sailors, three border guards, and 82 defenders of Mariupol and "Azovstal."
Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets expressed optimism that exchanges between Ukraine and Russia could become a regular occurrence, potentially happening on a weekly basis. He noted that the frequency of exchanges is influenced by the number of Russian soldiers held in Ukrainian captivity.
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