A man walks past a mural with the inscription Azovstal in honor of the defenders of Mariupol in Kiev (Photo:REUTERS/Marko Djurica)
Ukraine and Russia on June 29 conducted another prisoner swap, during which 144 Ukrainian defenders returned home, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (MID) said in a Telegram post.
The intelligence said that this exchange of prisoners had become the largest since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In particular, 95 Azovstal defenders were liberated, of whom 43 are members of the Azov Regiment.
Ukraine also achieved the release of 59 members of the National Guard, 30 servicemen of the Ukrainian Navy, 28 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 17 border guards, nine members of the territorial defense units, and one officer of the National Police.
“Of these, 23 are officers and 69 sergeants and non-commissioned servicemen. The oldest of those released turned 65, the youngest is 19,” the intelligence said.
Most of those released had suffered severe gunshot and shrapnel wounds, explosive injuries, burns, fractures, and the amputations of limbs. Currently, they are being provided with urgent medical and psychological assistance.
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