September 2022

Ukraine returned 215 captive soldiers from captivity, including 124 officers who have been held hostage by Russia since the end of May.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, while addressing the Ukrainians on September 22, named the team involved in the release of our defenders.

According to the president, four people are in charge of the operation to free the prisoners:

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Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak

Head of Intelligence Kirill Budanov

Head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk

Deputy Rustem Umerov

Vladimir Zelensky thanked them for their efforts. As well as their teams: Dmitry Usov, Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets and Minister Denis Monastyrsky.

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On the evening of September 21, an exchange of prisoners took place. Azovstal defenders returned home, including Konstantin “Fox” Nikitenko and Nikolai “Frost” Kushch.

The news is being updated

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A large exchange of prisoners took place, we were able to bring home 215 Ukrainian invincible defenders. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked everyone involved in the exchange and noted that all the special services worked perfectly.

Vladimir Zelensky spoke about the return of the defenders of Azovstal on the air of the Rada channel, channel 24 reports . He also noted that today is a very important and psychologically difficult day for Ukrainians.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this exchange, I think we will see all our guys and all those who helped bring them back,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky says we could have traded Medvedchuk for fewer of our heroes. “But today there is such news that the whole state, I'm sorry, has something to drink for“, adds the President.

Vladimir Zelensky summarizes what the guys should know – we are working on to return all . We will definitely do everything so that you can see your relatives, he said.

Large-scale exchange of prisoners on September 21, 2022

The first photos of the successful release of Azovstal defenders from captivity appeared on the network in the evening September 21.

It is known that Mikhail Dianov, Ekaterina “Ptichka” Polishchuk, pregnant physician Maryana Mamonova, policeman Svyatoslav Yermolov, head of the Mariupol patrol police Mikhail Vershinin, Dmitry Kazatsky, David Khimik and other heroes.

In addition, the invaders released from captivity the commanders of the Azov regiment Denis Prokopenko and his deputy Svyatoslav Palamar, as well as the commander of the 36th separate marine brigade Sergei Volynsky.

Ukraine freed 215 defenders of Ukraine from captivity, including 108 Azovians. The defenders of Azovstal Denis Prokopenko, Sergei Volynsky, Svyatoslav Palamar returned from captivity.

Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak announced this on the air of the all-Ukrainian marathon. He stressed that this was the most powerful result during the Russian invasion.

Today we managed to rescue 215 of our people from Russian captivity, including 124 officers. Of these, 108 defenders of “Azovstal”. This is the most powerful result that we have achieved since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of our territory,” Andriy Yermak said.

The commander of the Azov regiment, Denis Prokopenko, and his deputy, Svyatoslav “Kalina” Palamar, were released from captivity , as well as the commander of the Ukrainian 36th marine brigade Sergei Volyn.

Svyatoslav Palamar was released from Russian captivity/Photo by the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The commander of the regiment of defenders “Azovstal” was released/Photo by the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Denis Prokopenko “Radis”, Sergey Volynsky “Volyn”, Svyatoslav Palamar, Denis Shlega, Oleg Khomenko – commanders with ” Azovstal” – they are already safe. This is the result of personal agreements between President Zelensky and President Erdogan,” the head of the Presidential Office noted.

They are in Ankara, where they arrived in accordance with the exchange agreements.

Yermak specified that the exchange of prisoners took place in several stages and in different locations.

The five officers who led the defense of Mariupol in full encirclement for more than 80 days will not return to Ukraine for some time. They will stay in Turkey under the personal protection of President Erdogan.

This was announced on the night of September 22 by the Supreme Commander of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. According to him, Sergei Volynsky, Svyatoslav Palamar, Denis Prokopenko, Oleg Khomenko and Denis Shlega should not return home until the end of the war under the terms of the exchange.

Nevertheless, Ukraine will make sure that the heroes have the opportunity to stay with their families.

More than 200 defenders were exchanged for traitors to Ukraine and infidels

• According to the President, only in exchange for 5 commanders of the defense of Mariupol, the Ukrainian side fired 55 Russian invaders and traitors to our state.
• Viktor Medvedchuk himself was given to the Kremlin for the freedom of 200 invaders.
• Also within the framework of exchange, the Russians released 10 military and foreign volunteers – 5 citizens of Great Britain, 3 Americans, citizens of Morocco, Sweden and Croatia. All of their captors were sentenced to death.

Zelensky stressed that the exchange took place through the mediation of the leadership of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and many representatives of civilized countries. On the part of Ukraine, the operation to release the prisoners was prepared by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov, the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk, the delegate of the Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people Rustem Umerov and the office official Andrei Yermak.

What is known about the exchange of Azovstal defenders

The first information about the departure of the Ukrainian heroes appeared on the net in the evening of September 21st. As part of the exchange of prisoners, Mikhail Dianov, Ekaterina “Ptichka” Polishchuk, a pregnant physician Maryana Mamonova, policeman Svyatoslav Ermolov, head of the Mariupol patrol police Mikhail Vershinin, Dmitry Kazatsky, David Khimik and other heroes returned home.

In addition, the invaders released from captivity the commanders of the Azov regiment, Denis “Radis” Prokopenko and his deputy Svyatoslav “Kalina” Palamar, as well as the commander of the 36th separate marine brigade, Sergei “Volyn” Volynsky.

In total, according to media reports, 215 Ukrainian defenders returned home. Among them, 108 are Azov fighters.

Ukraine managed to return 10 foreign citizens. They were also in Russian captivity, they were sent to Saudi Arabia.

Relevant information was provided by the head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak. The return took place on 21 September. They will be sent from Saudi Arabia to their countries.

Ukraine freed 10 foreigners from captivity

At the request of international partners, we returned 10 foreign defenders of Ukraine. These are representatives of the countries that help us the most,” Yermak said.

The Head of the President’s Office explained that we are talking about the UK, the USA, Croatia, Sweden.

It is worth remembering that a special Envoy of the President of Ukraine Rustem Umerov was involved in the operation to free foreigners.

< p _ngcontent-sc89="" class="news-annotation">Ukraine conducted a new prisoner exchange with Russia. This time, they managed to free the foreigners who came to help, who were captured by the invaders.

In particular, they reported the dismissal of two Americans. This event was already commented on by Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the President of the United States.

Two Americans released from Russian captivity

Sullivan publicly expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian side for including US citizens on the exchange lists. In particular, the American politician noted:

• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky;
• Head of the Office of President Andriy Yermak;

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The U.S. National Security Adviser also thanked the Crown Prince and the government of Saudi Arabia for their assistance in this process.

We look forward to our citizens being reunited with their families,” Sullivan added. could be captured by the Russians. At that time, it was known that two of them were in contact with their relatives, as well as with Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

What is known about the new exchange of prisoners:

• Among those released from captivity, there are many already legendary defenders of Azovstal. Including commanders Denis Prokopenko, Sergei Volynsky and Svyatoslav Polamar. Their photos are already on the network;
• It is reported that Viktor Medvedchuk was handed over to Russia as part of the exchange of prisoners. It happened on September 21;
• In Russia, a real hysteria began because of recent events. Some even call it treason and disgrace.

Interesting – what is known about the new exchange of prisoners: watch the video

As a result of a large-scale exchange of prisoners, we managed to return 200 of our defenders, including many defenders of Azovstal. It is known that our heroes were exchanged for Putin's godfather – Viktor Medvedchuk.

This became known during the only news marathon, Channel 24 reports. The SBU also stressed that as a result of successful interrogations of Medvedchuk, more than one agent network was eradicated.

The SBU noted that Medvechuk is not only Putin's godfather, but also a qualitatively recorded state traitor of Ukraine.

“As for the Medvechuk case, all the details will be later, at further briefings,” the civil servants emphasized.

But we officially declare that his exchange will not negatively affect further court hearings and consideration of the case on the merits, – the SBU adds.

Large-scale exchange of prisoners on September 22, 2022 – the release of Azovstal fighters

In the evening of September 21, messages about the release appeared on the network defenders of Azovstal from Russian captivity. Telegram channels published photographs of fighters one after another. The media wrote that the exchange took place in the Chernihiv region.

On May 16, the defenders of Mariupol were evacuated from Azovstal to the occupied Novoazovsk and Olenevka. The Ministry of Defense noted that the operation to rescue the defenders would continue until they returned home.

In addition to 200 soldiers, today Ukraine returned 5 combat commanders. Volodymyr Zelensky said that they had to be fought for the most.