Ten Ukrainians, who were released from Russian captivity on June 28, returned to Kyiv.
Points of attention
- Among those released from captivity in the Russian Federation were the deputy chairman of the Mejlis and priests of the UGCC.
- It was a special joy to meet Ukrainians who were held captive by the Russian Federation since 2017 and 2018.
- The release of Ukrainians from captivity is an important victory and shows the strength and unity of the Ukrainian people on the way to freedom.
- The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, announced plans to release all Ukrainians held captive by the Russian Federation.
Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis Nariman Dzhelal and priests of the UGCC were returned from captivity in the Russian Federation
Freed Ukrainians who arrived in Kyiv were met by relatives, representatives of the authorities and clergy.
Smiles, hugs and tears in the eyes! Finally home! — informed the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The following were returned from Russian captivity on June 28 as part of the 53rd exchange:
Nariman Dzhelal, the deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, has been in captivity since 2021;
Valery Matyushenko is a political prisoner who has been in captivity since 2017;
Olena Pieh is an art critic and research associate of the Horliv Art Museum, who has been in captivity since 2018;
Bohdan Gelet, a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was detained by the Russians in 2022;
Ivan Levitsky, a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was detained by the Russians in 2022;
Mykola Shvets — a civilian captured on the territory of Belarus;
Natalia Zakharenko, a civilian captured on the territory of Belarus;
Pavlo Kuprienko, a civilian captured on the territory of Belarus;
Lyudmila Honcharenko, a civilian captured on the territory of Belarus;
Kateryna Bryukhanova is a civilian captured on the territory of Belarus.
Zelensky reacted to the release of 10 Ukrainians from Russian captivity
Nariman Dzhelal, deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, was captured in Crimea as early as 2021. Olena Pekh and Valery Matyushenko are civilians who have been in captivity since 2017-2018. Bohdan Geleta and Ivan Levitskyi are priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, captured in Berdyansk for resisting the occupiers.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi
President of Ukraine
Also, 5 civilians who were captured on the territory of Belarus and deprived of their freedom were released from Russian captivity - Mykola Shvetsia, Natalia Zakharenko, Pavel Kuprienko, Lyudmila Honcharenko and Kateryna Bryukhanova.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi concluded that Ukraine will definitely release all persons held captive by the Russian Federation.
