Ukraine returns 5,857 people from captivity since full-scale war began

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, 5,857 people have been returned from captivity, and 555 more people have been released, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting with representatives of the team working to release prisoners and assist them.

"There were representatives of the headquarters, representatives of the services involved in the exchanges, the Office team, and our people who were released from Russian captivity - defenders from various directions of the front, and in particular from Mariupol, member of Azov, our paramedic Taira, Leniye Umerova - a civilian who was captured by the occupiers in Crimea," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday.

He thanked everyone for this meeting. In addition, those present honored the memory of the soldiers who died in the terrorist attack in Olenivka.

"We talked about the most important thing: the return of all our people home, what stage are we at with the exchanges today. We do not stop for a single day. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, a total of 5,857 people have been returned alive from captivity. Outside of the exchanges, another 555 people. As a result of the exchanges within Istanbul, more than a thousand of our soldiers were returned," Zelenskyy said.

He also stressed that Ukraine hopes to release those civilians who are currently being held in Russia.

"It is important to continue the exchanges, to check the situation by each surname. Each and every one is important. I am grateful to everyone who is doing their best to make the exchanges possible, and to everyone who is helping. I also thank our soldiers who are replenishing the exchange fund for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.