200 people from Russian captivity returned to Ukraine – the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenski passed today. This is the implementation of the arrangements for the exchange of prisoners of war, which were reached during the tripartite talks in Geneva – stated the Coordination Staff for the POWs in Kiev.
"Today 200 Ukrainian families received the most awaited message: their loved ones return home. Our people's return to their homeland is always good news for all of us, for the full country. Among the returnees are the defenders of Mariupol, the Doniecki, Lugansk, Charkovsky and Zaporoski circuit,” wrote Zelenski in the Telegram communicator.
The president pointed out that all return of Ukrainian prisoners to their home proves that Ukraine is working to regain all its citizens. Zelenski expressed his gratitude to his partners, including the United States, for supporting exchanges and Ukrainian soldiers who form the conditions for carrying out these projects on the front.
"Today, the first phase of the prisoner exchange was conducted, which was agreed during talks in Geneva. [...] Among the freed are Mariupola defenders, who were in captivity for almost 4 years,” reported the Military Prisoners Coordination Staff in Kiev.
The staff added that he was continuing his work and that a further phase of the release of Ukrainian soldiers would be carried out soon.
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation informed on Thursday of the exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine in the format ‘200 to 200’. According to reports from Russian media, on 5 and 6 March there is an exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine in the format "500 to 500", as part of the Geneva Agreements. On Friday, Ukraine and Russia will hold the second prisoner exchange “300 to 300”. The intermediaries in this exchange are the United arabian Emirates and the USA.
APW, PAP
