The First All-Female POW’s Exchange
The press service of the Ukrainian Navy, the commissioner of the parliament of Ukraine for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, the head of the presidential office, Andrii Yermak, and the state border service confirmed the exchange.
"37 evacuated from Azovstal, 11 officers, 85 enlisted women,n, and sergeants. Of these — 35 defenders from the armed forces of Ukraine, 32 —from the navy, 12 from territorial defence, 8 from the national guard of Ukraine, including 2 from regiment Azov, 5 from the state special transport service, 4 from the state border service and 12civiliansn", the press service of the president's office reported.
It is noted that among the prisoners were girls, which Russian invaders held in the occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2019. It is noted that these women were detained by Russian soldiers for the Ukrainian position, the delivery of humanitarian aid to children. Some were also accused of terrorism and espionage.
Her story sounded throughout Ukraine. The woman was in Mariupol at the plant Azovstal. She helped the wounded but then, like everyone else, surrendered. Her daughter was taken during the evacuation. Mom and daughter haven't seen each other in almost 5 months.
The spokesman of the office of the president of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, said that they had been silent for a long time. It was important for Ukraine to return the prisoners and then to report it, as there were many risks. Yermak said the exchange was nerve-wracking and could have broken down at any moment. But on October 17, 108 Ukrainian defenders returned home, and now Ukraine is beginning to work on saving new people.
