Ukraine frees 150 defenders from Russian captivity

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak on Telegram, although they later deleted the respective posts. 

Zelenskyy shared that among the 150 Ukrainian defenders were officers, soldiers, sergeants, National Guardsmen, and a police officer. 

"Naval Forces soldiers who were captured in Mariupol and the Zaporizhzhia region, Air Force personnel, soldiers from the Air Assault and Ground Forces, National Guardsmen, border guards, Territorial Defense forces, as well as a police officer. They all came from different frontlines, but they are united by one thing: they fought for Ukraine," the president wrote.

He specified that some soldiers had been in Russian captivity for over two years.

• Ukraine has managed to bring home 25 more people from Russian captivity, including defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, as well as a civilian.