Ukraine returns 45 Azovstal defenders from captivity, including three women
Some of them will have to undergo treatment and rehabilitation
Ukraine has returned 42 Azovstal defenders, including three women, from captivity, the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, said on Saturday.
"Great news on this sunny day. We are bringing home 45 of our people. These are 42 defenders and three defenders of Azovstal. All of them are National Guardsmen from the unit established nine years ago on the Azov coast. 35 privates and sergeants, 10 officers," Yermak wrote on his telegram channel.
"Among them are soldiers who got married during the defense of Mariupol, at Azovstal. There is also our warrior who, before the large-scale invasion, was a prisoner of war for 2.5 years, captured by the Russians during the Shyrokyne operation. He was later released from captivity and immediately returned to his unit. He was captured again at Azovstal and is returning home today," said Yermak.
The Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports that a member of the legendary "helicopter" mission of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine to evacuate the wounded from Azovstal was released. The evacuation helicopter he was in was shot down, but the soldier managed to survive. He was seriously wounded and threatened with a so-called "trial". Now the soldier will undergo treatment and rehabilitation.
The headquarters also reported that a 56-year-old Afghan war veteran, a master sergeant, who was wounded on the Maidan, fought in the ATO and JFO and repelled full-scale Russian aggression, was released from captivity.
Many of the soldiers released today have been wounded and have serious health problems. In Ukraine, they will be provided with all the necessary assistance, rehabilitation and all social benefits and salaries.
According to Russian media reports, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that three pilots had been returned from captivity in an exchange.
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