Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to free 5,857 individuals from captivity, with an additional 555 outside of exchanges.

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Facebook post following a meeting with representatives of the teams working on the release of prisoners.

«Today, I met with almost all the members of our team who are engaged in the release of prisoners. Present were representatives from the headquarters, the services involved in exchanges, and our released defenders from Russian captivity, including those from Mariupol, the «Azov» regiment, our paramedic Tyra, and Lenia Umierova, a civilian captured in Crimea,» Zelensky noted.

He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the meeting. The participants honored the memory of soldiers who lost their lives due to a Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka.

«We discussed the most important matters: the return of all our people home and the current state of exchanges. We do not stop even for a day. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, we have returned a total of 5,857 individuals alive. Outside of exchanges, there are still 555 people. Through exchanges in Istanbul, we have managed to bring back over a thousand of our warriors. We hope to also free the civilians who are still held in Russia,» emphasized Zelensky.

According to him, it is crucial to continue exchanges and check the situation for each individual.

«Every person is important. I am grateful to everyone who is doing their utmost to make exchanges possible and to all those who provide assistance. Thank you also to our defenders who replenish the exchange fund for Ukraine,» Zelensky stressed.