Among POWs released from Russian captivity are 9 National Guard fighters, 17 border guards – Interior Minister

Among the Ukrainian defenders released from Russian captivity on Thursday are nine fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine and 17 border guards, who will receive the necessary medical, social and psychological assistance, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has said.

"As part of the first stage of the Geneva agreements, 200 defenders have returned to Ukraine. Among them are nine National Guard fighters and 17 border guards," the minister said on his Telegram channel on Thursday.

According to him, they defended the country in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions. "Some of the servicemen had been in captivity since 2022," Klymenko said.

He said: "Recovery lies ahead. Our servicemen will receive the necessary medical, social and psychological assistance."

The interior minister expressed gratitude to the President of Ukraine, the head of the Presidential Office, the negotiating group and colleagues from the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.