First of all, today our gratitude goes to our team involved in the exchanges and to all Ukrainian…

First of all, today our gratitude goes to our team involved in the exchanges and to all Ukrainian warriors – every unit – who replenish the exchange fund for our state. I am proud of you all, and I thank you for your help in liberating our people from Russian captivity.

It is important to understand that nothing happens just like that. Strong positions are always needed for Ukraine. The capabilities of our state must always be increased. In times of war, results can only be earned. I thank everyone who makes this possible.

We have managed to bring back another 95 Ukrainians from Russian captivity. Most of them are privates and sergeants, 26 officers. Defenders of Mariupol, and generally of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kherson regions. Among them are Azov warriors. Also, Maksym Butkevych – a Ukrainian human rights activist, who went to defend Ukraine after the beginning of the full-scale war.

All those who have been returned are now receiving the assistance they need. And we keep working to free our people: military personnel and civilians. This is a very difficult process, but the more effective we are on the battlefield and in diplomacy, the sooner we will be able to bring the others back. We are investigating the fate of everyone who may be in captivity. We are trying very hard to get all of them back.

I thank the Armed Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ombudsman, the Coordination Headquarters – all those who are involved and those who help. I also thank our partners – those countries and leaders who strengthen our positions within this work. And always, whenever we have the opportunity, we talk to leaders during visits about the need to bring Ukrainians home – all those who are captured by Russia.