Ukraine has returned 45 defenders of Azovstal, who were in Russian captivity.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the Ukrainian President, reports.

The released include 42 men and three women who defended Azovstal. That is 35 private soldiers and sergeants, as well as 10 officers.

“All of them are members of the National Guard’s detachment established on the Azov coast nine years ago,” Yermak wrote.

Among them are soldiers who got married at the Azovstal plant during the defense of Mariupol.

Also, among those whom the Russians released from captivity was a Ukrainian soldier who, before the large-scale invasion, was in captivity for 2.5 years, when he had been captured during the Shyrokyne operation.

He was later released from captivity and immediately returned to the unit.

“He was again taken prisoner of war at Azovstal steelworks, and today he is coming back home,” Andriy Yermak said.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that a participant in the “helicopter” mission of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for evacuation of the wounded from the Azovstal plant was also released.

The soldier had been in the evacuation helicopter that was shot down, but managed to survive. Being seriously wounded, he was threatened with a so-called “trial”.

Now the serviceman will undergo a course of treatment and rehabilitation.

It is noted that many of the servicemen released today have injuries and serious health problems. In Ukraine, they will be provided with all the necessary assistance, undergo rehabilitation and will receive all social benefits, as well as appropriate financial support.

According to the Russian mass media, 45 Ukrainians were exchanged for three Russian pilots, as follows:

• Krishtop Maksim Sergeevich, lieutenant colonel, deputy commander of the aviation regiment;
• Kosik Sergey Sergeevich, lieutenant colonel, deputy commander of the aviation regiment;
• Malov Sergey Vladimirovich, major, commander of the aviation unit.

It is known that in 2022 Kosik Sergey was engaged in bombing of the Kharkiv region with an Su-30 and was shot down on March 13 at an altitude of 6,000 meters, south of Izium.