As many as 1,917 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine remain in Russian captivity.

Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, stated this during a joint briefing.

“1,368 captured heroes are Azovstal defenders. We have returned 699 people, and it’s a huge job,” said Ihor Klymenko.

Klymenko informed that 72% of Ukrainian heroes are back in service.

“For this purpose, we are opening rehabilitation centers. Military personnel who are unable to continue their service for health reasons will also receive the necessary assistance – medical and psychological rehabilitation should work for them,” the Minister of Internal Affairs said.

He said that, on the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelensky, joint interagency work was carried out to create a clear mechanism for the exchange process for citizens, and first of all for the military and families waiting for their loved ones to be released from captivity, for their comrades-in-arms who are currently serving.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the process will also be implemented through the centers of social workers who will serve in each military unit of the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Previously, the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk said that the SSU’s priority was to return Ukrainian defenders from captivity, so the SSU and the Ukrainian Defense Forces were actively working to replenish the exchange fund by capturing Russian soldiers on the battlefield.

On August 14, it was reported that Ukraine and Russia had begun negotiations on the exchange of prisoners.

This happened against the backdrop of the capture of hundreds of Russian soldiers during the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region.

“There was a proactive conversation on the part of the Russian counterpart on this issue,” said Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

Official sources do not name the total number of new Russian POWs, but the President Volodymyr Zelenskyi thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine in his video address for actively “replenishing the exchange fund.”