Ukraine has already brought back 2,598 people as of November 22, 2023, according to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. Since March 11, 2022, a total of 48 exchanges have taken place.

“We have held more than 50 meetings with family members of prisoners of war and missing persons under special circumstances. In addition, more than 9,000 people have contacted the hotline for clarification on the rights of servicemen and their families,” Lubinets added.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets during serviceman forum / Photo: Denys Glushko for Gwara Media

The last exchange occurred on August 7, 2023, when 22 soldiers returned from captivity. These are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including two officers and sergeants. They took part in battles in different areas, and some of them were wounded. The oldest was 54 years old; the youngest was 23 years old.

An 18-year-old boy from occupied Mariupol, Bohdan Yermokhin, was also returned home. The Russians had taken him to the Moscow region. He appealed to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help him return home.

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Over 28,000 Ukrainians are listed in the Unified Register of Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said during an event dedicated to the rights of servicemen.