Among them is one civilian.
Ukraine achieved a separate format for the return of seriously ill and wounded prisoners and returned 25 Ukrainians. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate.
They were rescued as a result of mutual repatriation. All repatriated servicemen are soldiers, sailors and sergeants.
“They defended the Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Donetsk directions, the city of Mariupol, in particular Azovstal. Among those returned are also civilians captured in the Kyiv region and illegally held by the Russians,” the GUR reported.
25 wounded and seriously ill prisoners returned home
These defenders fought as part of the National Guard, the Armed Forces (including territorial defense), the Navy and the State Border Service. They also managed to pick up the military wounded during the Kursk operation.
“The youngest to be dismissed is 24 years old. The eldest is sixty. These people have been through a lot without proper medical care and with inhumane treatment in enemy captivity. The wounded have, in particular, loss of vision, amputations of limbs, complex ball wounds and consequences of mine and explosive injuries. Among the diseases are tuberculosis, oncology, gangrene, which eloquently testifies to the conditions in which our people have to live,” the GUR added.
According to the Third Geneva Convention, it is the seriously ill and seriously wounded who must be returned first.
- Ukraine and the occupiers conducted a preliminary exchange of prisoners on December 30. That day, 189 Ukrainians returned home.
