Today, Ukraine witnessed another prisoner exchange with Russia, bringing 25 of its citizens back home. All those released are suffering from severe injuries or illnesses sustained during captivity or combat. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, thanking the United Arab Emirates for their instrumental role in facilitating the process.
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner Affairs, this exchange marked a breakthrough in creating a dedicated protocol for repatriating severely ill and wounded prisoners. Among those returned are soldiers, sailors, sergeants, members of the National Guard, Armed Forces, Navy, and Border Guard who defended key areas like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Mariupol, and the Azovstal plant. A civilian abducted from Kyiv Oblast was also among the returnees.
The exchange included transporting wounded Ukrainian servicemen from Russia’s Kursk region. The youngest returnee is 24 years old, and the eldest is 60. These individuals endured immense suffering in captivity, often without adequate medical care, and faced inhumane treatment.
The injuries include vision loss, amputations, gunshot wounds, and the aftermath of landmine explosions. Diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, and gangrene also highlight the deplorable conditions they endured.
The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that under the Third Geneva Convention, severely ill and wounded individuals should be prioritized for repatriation.
In 2024, Ukraine successfully brought home 1,358 prisoners from Russian captivity, an increase of 356 compared to 2023.
News Flash – January 15, 2025
Author: Hanna Shubina, HUBZ Inform Journalist and Monitoring Analyst
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