In Ukraine, 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of Russian prisoners. In total, 3,767 prisoners have been exchanged since the start of Russia’s direct assault on Ukraine, the figure is given by the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets. Among them, human rights defender and journalist Maksym Butkevych, imprisoned for more than two years.
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With our correspondent in kyiv, Emmanuelle Chaze
This is the 58th such exchange since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, made possible through the United Arab Emirates. Among the released prisoners, many had been in captivity for more than two years, including defenders of Mariupol, officers and soldiers of the national guard, the navy as well as 34 soldiers of the Azov battalion.
“ So desired »
We also note the return of a personality here in Ukraine. This is Maksym Butkevych, human rights defender and journalist, our media colleagues Hromatske were able to speak to him upon his arrival: “ It’s very unexpected, so desired. It’s very beautiful. And I hope that, well, now I’m coming back with a friend of mine, a colleague from the penal colony, where there are still more than four dozen prisoners of war convicted on fabricated cases. It is very important for them that we have returned and very important that they are informed about it, because we are the first convicts from this Luhansk colony to be exchanged. »
Relief
These liberations are always greeted with great relief in Ukraine, knowing the torture and mistreatment that is inflicted on Ukrainian prisoners in Russiabut thousands of families are still waiting for news of their loved ones remaining in captivity.
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