On 16 February, another prisoner exchange took place. 101 Ukrainians were released from Russian captivity, according to the Coordination Centre for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Among those released are 100 soldiers and one civilian, the first deputy mayor of Enerhodar, Ivan Samoydyuk.
"He did not break down, refused to cooperate with the enemy and was abducted by the occupiers on 19 March last year at a checkpoint near Blahovishchenka. After 333 days of captivity, he is returning to his family and friends," the headquarters added.
There are many wounded among the released Ukrainian defenders. Most of them are defenders of Mariupol. There are also Ukrainian defenders from the Kherson and Kyiv areas. Also, 63 Azovstal defenders, defenders of Bucha, Kherson and Lyman have returned.
"Forty-six of the released prisoners belong to the Navy, 29 to the State Border Guard Service, 12 to the National Guard, eight to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and five to the Territorial Defence. This time, all those released as a result of the exchange are privates and non-commissioned officers," the Coordination Centre for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.
On 4 February, Ukraine conducted another prisoner exchange. Then 116 defenders of Mariupol, Kherson partisans, snipers from the Bakhmut area, and other heroes were returned.
Later, the intelligence service reported that they were working on bringing home the defenders of Zmiyinyy Island and Azovstal.