108 Ukrainian Women Released... 37 Azovstal Prisoners
Russia: "80 Civilians, 30 DPR Soldiers Returned to Russia"
Ukrainian female prisoners of war who were captured by Russian forces returned to their homeland on the 17th (local time) through a prisoner exchange between the two countries. Photo by the Office of the President of Ukraine, EPA Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] More than 100 Ukrainian female prisoners were released in a prisoner exchange with Russia. This is the first time since the war that all released prisoners were women.
On the 17th (local time), according to foreign media including AFP and The Guardian, Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, stated, "There was another large-scale prisoner exchange today," and "108 women are returning."
He explained that among them were mothers and daughters who had been captured together, and 37 of them had surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant, the last stronghold of resistance in the southern port city of Mariupol. Yermak also released photos showing dozens of women, including those in military uniforms, returning.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that 72 civilian ship crew members captured by Ukraine since the war began in February have returned. They added that these individuals will be transferred to Moscow to receive medical and psychological support.
Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), which declared independence in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, had previously stated that before the exchange was officially announced, both countries planned to exchange 110 prisoners each. He said that the prisoners returning to Russia included 80 civilian sailors and 30 soldiers.
After the exchange was finalized, it was agreed that 110 Ukrainian prisoners would return to their country, but two chose to remain in Russia voluntarily. He did not provide further details about the prisoners returning to Russia.
Earlier, Ukraine and Russia conducted the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the war on the 22nd of last month. At that time, Ukraine exchanged 215 prisoners, and Russia exchanged 55. Ukraine received 108 members of the Azov Regiment who had fought to the end at the Azovstal steel plant during the battle for southeastern Mariupol.
In return, Russia received 55 prisoners, including Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian opposition leader considered a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Most recently, on the 13th, the two countries exchanged a total of 40 prisoners, 20 each.
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