Today, July 4, a prisoner exchange took place in accordance with the "Istanbul agreements". Most of those who were returned on Friday had been in russian captivity since 2022.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced this on Telegram.
"The exchanges should continue, and I thank everyone who ensures this. Ukraine's goal is to free all our people from Russian captivity. I thank everyone who helps to do this," Zelenskyy stressed.
Prisoner exchange on July 4. Photo: Telegram/Zelenskiy/Official
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that a group of defenders from the "wounded and seriously ill" category, as well as "under 25 years old", were returned from russian captivity today.
The servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including representatives of the Navy, the Ground Forces, the Territorial Defense, the Special Operations Forces, as well as the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service and the State Special Transport Service, returned home. They defended the country in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk and Kherson directions.
The youngest released defender is only 20 years old. The oldest is 59 years old. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, officers were also released.
Prisoner exchange on July 4. Photo: Telegram/Zelenskiy/Official
Prisoner exchange on June 20. Photo: Telegram/Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
It is also reported that among those released today are again the defenders of Mariupol, who have been held in captivity since 2022. It is noted that Ukraine managed to release from the russian captivity illegally convicted defenders and Ukrainian civilians deprived of personal liberty.
Prisoner exchange on July 4. Photo: Telegram/Zelenskiy/Official
"Those released from captivity will undergo the necessary medical examination, receive assistance with physical and psychological rehabilitation, as well as all due payments for the entire time they were in captivity," the Coordination Headquarters said.
They also emphasized that the exchange process in accordance with the "Istanbul agreements" is ongoing. The exact number of released persons will be announced after all stages of the exchange are completed.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on June 2, Ukraine and the aggressor country russia agreed in Istanbul to exchange all seriously wounded prisoners of war, as well as all young soldiers aged 18-25.
Earlier, the editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian News agency and candidate of political sciences Denys Horokhovskyi told how Ukraine managed to create an unprecedented system of prisoner exchange during the war.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.