Ukraine welcomes home 49 civilians and Azov soldiers freed from Russian captivity

Source: Volodymyr Zelensky

On September 13, 49 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel have returned home from Russian captivity, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

“orty-nine Ukrainians are now home. These include warriors from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, and our civilians. Among them is Leniye Umerova, a young woman taken hostage by the Russians when she came to take care of her sick father. More defenders of Azovstal have also been freed. Viktor Ivchuk, a military medic and Hero of Ukraine, is also back home,” wrote Zelenskyy on social media.

The president promised Kyiv will ‘bring home every single one of our people, both military and civilian”.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets who coordinates prisoner exchanges on Ukraine’s side, said it was 56th exchange since the start of the war.  “Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 3,569 Ukrainians have returned home,” he added.