Ukraine Hails Return of 45 Azov Fighters, Russia Says 3 Pilots Launched

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine on Saturday hailed the return of 45 Azov battalion fighters captured through the battle for Mariupol whereas Russia stated three of its pilots had been launched by Kyiv, however neither aspect gave a full account of the obvious prisoner swap.

The freed Ukrainian prisoners included 42 males and three ladies from the Azov battalion, stated Andriy Yermak, the top of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s workplace.

Azov battalion fighters, who did a lot of the combating within the failed defence of the port metropolis of Mariupol, have been lionized as heroes by many Ukrainians however are broadly vilified in Russia.

“Good news on this sunny day. We’re returning house 45 of our individuals. Thirty-five privates and sergeants, 10 officers,” Yermak stated on the telegram app in a put up that didn’t point out the discharge of Russian prisoners.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated in a press release that three pilots had been returned and have been being supplied with medical and psychological help.

“Because of a troublesome negotiation course of, three Russian pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces, who had been in mortal hazard whereas in captivity, have been returned from Kyiv-controlled territory,” stated the assertion, which didn’t point out the 45 Ukrainian prisoners. There have been no stories on Russian state media of further Russian prisoner releases.

Ukraine’s navy intelligence company, which coordinates prisoner exchanges with Russia, didn’t instantly reply to a request for extra particulars.

Moscow and Kyiv have agreed a quantity prisoner exchanges since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February final 12 months.

Russia says it launched its “particular navy operation” to counter a risk from Kyiv’s relations with the West, whereas Ukraine and its Western companions say it was an unprovoked land seize.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Modifying by Conor Humphries)

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