Ukraine brought back 49 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Among them are the personnel of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the National Police, and border guards, The Kyiv Independent reported.
In all, 23 women were brought back, including civilians detained and illegally imprisoned by Russia before the full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Friday.
Among the released is Leniye Umerova, a Crimean Tatar, who was detained by Russia at the Georgian-Russian border in 2022 when she went to the occupied Crimea to look after her cancer-stricken father.
Another released was Military medic and Hero of Ukraine Viktor Ivchuk. The colonel of the Armed Forces and head of a military hospital in Mariupol, Ivchuk had been detained by Russia since April 2022, The Kyiv Independent reported.
"We have to bring home all of our soldiers and civilians," Zelensky said.
Among the released prisoners are 15 soldiers of the Azov Brigade who last year had defended Mariupol.
"The Azov (soldiers) were included in the exchange for the first time in a long time. This group consists mainly of women," said the sub-division of Azov responsible for captured, killed and injured soldiers.
The Ukrainian President stated his appreciative thanks to the team that had secured the release of prisoners and hostages from captivity in Russia and underscored the returning of all remaining Ukrainians who were still being held captive by Russia.
"I want to thank our entire team that works to secure the release of prisoners and hostages from Russian captivity. I especially want to acknowledge each of our Ukrainian units that contribute to replenishing the exchange fund for our country. All our warriors who capture Russian occupiers, and all our services that neutralize Russian saboteurs and collaborators, bring closer the liberation of our people. We must bring home every single one of our people, both military and civilian," Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry of Ukraine also announced freeing of 49 Ukrainians from Russian captivity.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry shared a post on X and said, "At home. Today, 49 of our people returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, National Police and civilians are finally back home. Glory to Ukraine!"
Thirteen sailors, eight soldiers of the Armed Forces, two police officers, and four border guards were also released from Russian captivity, the headquarters reports.
As many as 3,569 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said. This is the 56th prisoner exchange since the beginning of full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine.
The Kyiv city will agree to all-for-all prisoner exchange, one of the demands in the Ukraine peace summit to be held mid-June in Switzerland.
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