Zelensky: We Will Continue Working To Bring All Prisoners Back

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) This was emphasized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address, reports Ukrinform.

“The most important thing is that there was a prisoner exchange, and 157 of our people have returned home from Russian captivity. For a long time, it was not possible to unblock exchanges; now the process is set in motion, and it is crucial that it continues,” he said.

The President stressed that everything is being done on the Ukrainian side to ensure that exchanges take place.

He also expressed gratitude to partners who assist and provide the necessary mediation.

“I would also like to thank our warriors – each of our units that replenishes Ukraine's exchange fund allows the state to carry out this exchange work,” Zelensky emphasized.

At the same time, the President noted that among the military personnel released today are those who had been in captivity for almost four years.

“An extraordinarily long and difficult time, given all the Russian brutality. I am happy for the families, relatives, and brothers-in-arms who waited for their loved ones to return. We will continue working to bring everyone back – each and every one – military personnel and civilians, adults and children. We remember everyone and are verifying information on each person, name by name,” Zelensky added.

Read also: Ukrainian forces eliminate 30,000 invaders in January – Zelensky

As Ukrinform reported, on February 5, as a result of an exchange, Ukraine returned 150 military personnel and seven civilians from Russian captivity; 139 of them had been held since 2022.

The youngest of the freed soldiers is 23 years old. He was captured at the age of 19 while defending the city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region. A Russian court illegally sentenced the young man to“life imprisonment.”

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