1,269 Ukrainian Service Members Already Released from Russian Captivity

The Coordination Headquarters managed to release another 50 Ukrainian defenders from enemy captivity. Over the past two days, 86 defenders were returned from captivity, a total of 1,269 people as of today.

In particular, 20 representatives of the National Guard of Ukraine, 12 members of the Naval Forces, 10 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, six members of the State Border Guard Service and two soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces have been freed recently. Two officers, privates and sergeants are among those released.

In addition, seven marines and border guards from Zmiinyi Island returned home. The defenders of Mariupol and, in particular, Azovstal steelworks, as well as 15 National Guard members captured at the Chornobyl NPP, were released from captivity.

Their military specialties are sappers, drivers, medics, signals, gunners and others. At least nine of those freed are injured. The oldest of the released defenders turned 44, the youngest, 19.

Ukrainian defenders released from captivity represent:

• 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade
• 1st Separate Marine Battalion
• 1st Separate Battalion for Protection of Particularly Important State Objects
• Izmayil Border Detachment
• 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade
• 55th Separate Artillery Brigade “Zaporizka Sich”
• 18th  Separate Battalion
• 13th Separate Air Assault Battalion named after Hero of Ukraine Colonel Taras Senyuk
• 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion
• Donetsk Border Detachment
• Luhansk Border Detachment named after  Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhen Pikus
• 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade “Brody”
• 35th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradsky
• 9th Operational Assignment Regiment named after Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada
• 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynsky
• 88th Separate Marine Battalion
• 23rd Separate Public Order Brigade “Khortytsia”
• 109th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade
• 12th Operational Brigade named after Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi
• Military Hospital of the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Eastern Region,
• 503rd Separate Marine Battalion

Efforts are being made to hold further exchanges.

Natalia Tolub