The state will ensure comprehensive rehabilitation of the Russian captivity released and continue to work on returning all its people - Andriy Yermak

Ukraine is still working to liberate all its citizens, which is held by the Russian side. On behalf of President Vladimir Zelensky, a plan of measures will be developed to rehabilitate those who have returned from captivity. This was stated by the head of the office of the Head of State Andriy Yermak at a briefing dedicated to the exchange and return of defenders of Ukraine from the Russian captivity.

“Yesterday, a very important exchange for us, which made not only the families of our heroes, but all Ukrainians. Although it seemed to be an unreal mission, especially about the commanders of Azov, - Andrey Yermak stressed. The head of the Presidential Office assured that the work on the release of Ukrainian prisoners would continue. "We will not stop until we return all our heroes, all our citizens who are captured," he said.

According to the Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kirill Budanov, among 215 people who were returned from Russian captivity yesterday - 118 National Guard (108 of them - fighters of the Azov Regiment), 50 military personnel of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 22 defenders from other units.

Of the Armed Forces, nine servicemen of the State Border Service, the National Police and TRO units, one employee of the SBU, the State Secret Service of Transport, the State Customs Service and two civilians. In total, 188 people who were previously evacuated from the Azovstal plant were released as a result of the exchange. It also managed to return home eight wounded during a Russian terrorist attack in the occupied Olenivka in Donetsk region.

“This is the next stage of the operation, which we carry out on a constant basis from the moment we have begun to appear. This was especially intensified after Azovstal. This next stage is currently the largest exchange during the war, ”said GUR Chief. The temporary acting chairman of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk added that during a full-scale invasion of this was the 20th exchange, in total 802 citizens of Ukraine were released.

"The 200 people we exchanged directly in the Chernihiv region are those we exchanged Mr. Medvedchuk, who is not just an odious godfather of Putin, but a qualitatively documented state traitor," he said. In particular, according to the head of the SBU, it is about the plan "Ray", which was developed by the FSB of the Russian Federation for influence in Ukraine and in which Viktor Medvedchuk participated directly.

“It is also worth mentioning a rather important story about the agent network of the so-called professor who worked in the Odessa and Ivano-Frankivsk region. She specialized in collecting information and transferring it to hostile special services. In addition, an agent network was operating in the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnitsky regions, which, in addition to collecting information, was preparing for the creation of appropriate quasi-rares in these regions, ”Vasyl Malyuk said.

The wife of the released commander of the Azov Regiment Denis Prokopenko Kateryna, who took part in a briefing with a video briefing, said that after several months of unknown, she finally heard her husband's voice. “We all fought for their return. I thank President Vladimir Zelensky, who took this issue under personal control. Thank you for the support of the issue of releasing our captives on the world stage.

I also thank the General Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, the Presidential Office, the Foreign Ministry, all involved, ”Kateryna Prokopenko said. At the same time, she stressed that the struggle is not completed, and many women are still waiting for their courageous warriors and hope that they will be able to see them. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denis Monastyrsky said that most of the liberated Ukrainians have already met with their relatives.

Some of them are now in medical institutions in Chernihiv. The condition of the released military is different, because some of them were kept in the territory of the Russian Federation, someone - in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. Most have exhaustion due to chronic malnutrition. Ukrainian investigators communicate with the military and record their testimonies about the crimes committed by them in Russian captivity. “Almost everyone needs treatment and rehab.

Absolutely everyone needs psychological rehabilitation, and such an assignment was given by the President. The best specialists will be involved in this work, ”Denis Monastyrsky said. Andriy Yermak added that the head of state will instruct to prepare and present him a plan of measures for rehabilitation and assistance to those who returned from captivity.