As a result of the prisoner exchange, 27 defenders of Mariupol returned home.

On the second day of the prisoner exchange in the format of '1000 for 1000', 307 defenders returned to Ukraine. Among them were servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, such as Air Assault Forces, Naval Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, drone operators from the unmanned systems, as well as warriors from the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard of Ukraine. For the first Time, prisoners from separate units and military parts were able to be liberated.

In total, Ukrainians who fought in the Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk directions returned home. The youngest released is 25 years old, and the oldest is 61 years old. Among the released are wounded and sick individuals.

In the current exchange, 27 defenders of Mariupol are returning to their homeland. All 307 liberated defenders are men, representing the rank and file and sergeant personnel.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized that the agreement for the release of 1000 Ukrainians from Russian captivity was 'perhaps the only real result of the meeting in Turkey'. He stressed that the return of all Ukrainians from Russian captivity is one of the key tasks for Ukraine.

Recently, negotiations took place in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia. European leaders expressed concern about Russia's position during these negotiations, noting that it is Moscow that is slowing down the ceasefire process.

Analysis of the news

The exchange of prisoners is an important step in resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The return of the defenders of Mariupol and other Ukrainian warriors further highlights the significance of this process for the country. President Zelensky emphasizes the importance of returning all Ukrainians from Russian captivity, which indicates the government's diligent work on this issue.