Twenty-three women among POWs returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity
Twenty-three women returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity after the 56th prisoner swap since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has said on Friday.
"This exchange is special, because first the first time in a long time we have managed to bring our women back from captivity: there are 23 of them among those released. In particular, these are Ukrainian civilians who were detained and illegally imprisoned by Russian forces before the full-scale invasion," it said on the Telegram channel.
Also, women who were forced to participate in the so-called Mariupol defenders "trial" returned to Ukraine.
A Crimean Tatar activist, Leniye Umerova, who was captured by Russian forces when crossing the Georgian border, has been set free as well.
According to the Coordination Headquarters, the released prisoners of war (POW) include 23 soldiers and sergeants, 19 officers. Eight of the released POWs are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (including two Territorial Defense fighters), two National Police officers, four border guards, 13 naval personnel, 15 defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal from the National Guard, and other seven are civilians.
The released POWs defended Ukraine on the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson axes.
Also, Hero of Ukraine, Medical Service Colonel Viktor Ivchuk, who headed a military hospital in Mariupol during the toughest time, has come back to Ukraine.
"Ukraine is grateful to the United Arab Emirates for the assistance in organizing another prisoner exchange," the Coordination Headquarters said.
