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.
