Ukraine has returned 49 prisoners from Russian captivity, including for the first time in a long time the defenders of Azovstal.

This was reported by the Coordinating Headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war.

Among the rescued soldiers there are 23 soldiers and sergeants, 19 officers. They defended the country in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson sectors.

8 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two of the National Police, four border guards and 13 sailors.

For the first time in a long time, 15 soldiers of the Azov Brigade who defended Mariupol and Azovstal were released. The other seven are civilians.

The activist of the Crimean Tatars, Lenia Umierova, who was captured by the Russians while crossing the border with Georgia, has been released.

The hero of Ukraine, colonel of the medical service Viktor Ivchuk, who was in charge of the military hospital in Mariupol during the most difficult times, also returned home.

"This exchange is special, because for the first time in a long time we managed to free our women from captivity: among those released there are 23. In particular, we are talking about civilian Ukrainian women who were detained and illegally imprisoned by the Russians before the full invasion," the Coordination Headquarters noted. for the treatment of prisoners of war.

It was also possible to free women who had been subjected to inhumane treatment, especially due to the forced participation in the so-called "trial" of the defenders of Mariupol.

The coordination headquarters emphasized that the Ukrainian government is grateful to the United Arab Emirates for its help in organizing the exchange of prisoners.

All prisoners released from Russian captivity will undergo a medical examination, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation, all due payments for the entire period of captivity and will be reintegrated into society.