Zelenskyy: Since the beginning of the great war, 5857 people have been returned from captivity

Prisoner exchange on 23 July. Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has managed to return 5,857 people from Russian captivity. In addition, 555 were returned outside of exchanges.

This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On 28 July, he met with representatives of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the services involved in the exchanges, as well as with Ukrainians released from captivity. In particular, the meeting was attended by defenders from Mariupol, members of the «Azov» brigade, paramedic Yuliia Paievska (Taira) and Crimean Tatar Lenie Umerova.

«Since the beginning of the full-scale war, a total of 5,857 people have been returned alive from captivity. Another 555 people have been released outside of the exchanges. As a result of the exchanges within Istanbul, more than a thousand of our soldiers have been returned. We hope to release those civilians who are still being held in Russia,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

As a reminder, on 23 July, Ukraine and Russia held the ninth stage of the prisoner exchange as part of the agreements reached during the second round of talks in Istanbul.