SBU shows exclusive video of prisoner exchange
20 June 22:33
Today, the next stage of the large-scale exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia took place. This event was another step in the return of all Ukrainians home. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Security Service of Ukraine.
According to the SBU, today’s exchange is the result of the work of the Joint Center for the Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and other authorized structures that have fulfilled the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that wounded and seriously ill defenders had returned home today.
“Most of the soldiers who are returning from Russian captivity today have been there for more than two years. And now they are finally home,” the President said.
These are the defenders of Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions. Representatives of the Navy, Army, Airborne Forces, the Special Forces, the Unmanned Systems Forces, as well as the Border Guard and the National Guard have returned home.
The Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War notes that the liberated soldiers have severe injuries and significant health problems.
“All of the liberated defenders have been injured or have serious medical diagnoses: epilepsy, hypertension, coronary heart disease, vision problems, musculoskeletal diseases, hernias, chronic digestive diseases. Many of the liberated have been diagnosed with weight loss,” the statement said.
All of the defenders released today are soldiers and non-commissioned officers. Among those released are the defenders of Mariupol who had been held captive since 2022.
The Coordination Center added that the exchange process is ongoing, and the exact number of released persons will be announced after all stages of the exchange are completed.
Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets clarified that the oldest released was 60 years old.
The SBU emphasized that, as noted by the head of state, Ukraine expects that the agreements on humanitarian issues reached during the meeting in Istanbul will be fully implemented.
“The life of every Ukrainian is the highest value! We are working to fulfill the order of the President of Ukraine and return all citizens of our country from captivity!” the SBU summarized.
