The Russian Federation returned three pilots from captivity, Ukraine 45 “Azovstal” defenders
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Three military pilots were returned from Ukrainian captivity to Russia. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Saturday, noting that it happened “as a result of a complex negotiation process”, and the pilots “were in mortal danger in captivity.” These are standard formulations, no other details are given.
On the same day, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrey Yermak, reported that 45 National Guard soldiers defending Mariupol were returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. “These are 42 defenders and three defenders of the Azovstals. All of them are National Guardsmen from a unit created 9 years ago on the shores of Azov. 35 privates and sergeants, 10 officers,” Ermak wrote.
Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian sides formally call what happened a prisoner exchange.
In May of last year, more than two thousand Ukrainian soldiers, including soldiers of the “Azov” regiment, were taken prisoner in Mariupol. Recently, many defenders of Mariupol, including the commanders of units defending the city, were released as a result of a series of prisoner exchanges.
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