During the last exchange, 8 defenders of Mariupol returned, including soldiers from “Azovstal”.
Galina Klempose, co-founder of the Association of Families of Defenders of Azovstal, said that about two thousand defenders of Azovstal are still in Russian captivity. Among the prisoners are women and men.
As Klempose noted on the air of the “Espresso” TV channel, during the last exchange, 8 Mariupol defenders returned. Some of them were on “Azovstal”.
“We cannot publish the exact number, because it could affect the situation. About two thousand defenders of Azovstal, women and men, are still in captivity,” she added.
Klempose also spoke about the fact that all the necessary processes are going on after returning from captivity.
“These are quite individual processes. It is impossible to determine a certain time for certain procedures, it all depends on the state of health. If we take it in general terms, then it is desirable not to disturb them for a month or a half. And for them to be under the supervision of doctors with the care of relatives nearby. These are individual moments, because many people were injured in Mariupol, many defenders had their health aggravated during captivity. It is unrealistic to name specific terms,” she summarized.
Release of Ukrainian soldiers from captivity
Another successful prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on Sunday, January 8. Ukraine returned home 50 soldiers – 33 officers and 17 privates and sergeants.
In 2022, it was possible to free almost 1,600 people from Russian captivity, including 1,464 military personnel and 132 civilians. The exchange of prisoners took place with the joint efforts of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Reintegration.
