The Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bondar spoke about the conditions of stay of the released commanders of units from Mariupol. According to him, they are limited only in movement and communication with the outside world.
He told about this during the conference of ambassadors of Ukraine in Kyiv in a commentary for "Radio Liberty".
Bondar emphasized that the released commanders are provided with medicines, food and sports equipment. Their condition has improved. But they are restricted in movement and communication.
"This is primarily related to security issues, as there is information about the threat of their physical destruction. And the second is the terms of further exchanges, since many of our heroes are still in Russian prisons, and we need to work on their release," he noted.
Bondar also said that now the Ukrainian military is waiting for their families, with whom they can celebrate the New Year.
- On the night of September 22, Ukraine exchanged prisoners with Russia. Ukraine returned 215 defenders of Mariupol, including the commanders of the "Azov" regiment, and Putinʼs godfather Viktor Medvedchuk and 55 Russian soldiers were returned to Russia.
- On the afternoon of September 21, it became known that the Russian authorities handed over to Saudi Arabia 10 captured foreigners who fought for Ukraine and were sentenced to death by the occupiers.
- Heads of the Ukrainian special services later said that the exchange was delayed for almost 8 hours, but in the end it took place simultaneously in four countries — Ukraine (on the border with the Russian Federation in the Chernihiv region), Poland (one of the stages), Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The five commanders of the Mariupol defenders — Denys Prokopenko (call sign "Redys"), Svyatoslav Palamar (call sign "Kalyna"), Serhiy Volynskyi (call sign "Volyna"), Oleh Khomenko and Denys Shleha — will remain in Turkey.