President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that more than 2.5 thousand Ukrainian fighters from Azovstal are in the hands of the Russian invaders. Their release is handled by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.

The head of state told reporters.

" On its basis, a special joint body was created. The prisoners are, unfortunately, in the hands of the Russian Federation... We know what to negotiate with the Russians, we know this price. We know they can't be trusted... GUR should deal with this issue and should deliver results. The only result is to return people home,"

According to the head of state, there are more than 2,500 Ukrainian defenders from Azovstal in Russia.

He noted that the first task assigned to the Main Intelligence Directorate was the task of bringing Ukrainian prisoners of war alive, and it was completed in full..

" I believe that the GUR completed the first part. Today there is the second part: to return them home alive... They are the best specialists in this regard... I personally trust them. We expect results from them.. But we cannot ask them every day: \?

All this is not easy. We will believe that they will succeed in their task,"