The defenders of Mariupol evacuated from Azovstal are alive, but the Ukrainian side does not know exactly in what conditions they are being held, said in an interview with LB. ua Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak.

We know that they are alive. As for the conditions, this issue is also monitored. To say clearly under what conditions, we can not yet. But we know for sure that they are alive. The GUR constantly keeps this under control, there is a connection with some of them, and the process of their dismissal does not stop even for an hour,” Yermak said, adding that the exchange process should soon enter an active phase.

To clarify who exactly coordinates the exchange of defenders with Azovstal, Yermak replied that this issue is not only the competence of the Main Intelligence Directorate, which coordinates work with prisoners, but also of a number of other departments, " At the same time, “the Office of the President was informed in detail”.

“A press center has been created in the center of the Main Intelligence Directorate for prisoners, both representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate and those structures whose people are in captivity will participate in its work.. Since negotiations and consultations are still ongoing, every detail is of great importance, the process is very difficult.. I would not want to somehow harm this process with my words and information,” Yermak added..

He added that at the first stage, the main thing was to save the lives of our heroes, and the GUR fulfilled this task..

“Today they are engaged in the second stage - their return. And all the details, I think, they will be able to clearly tell,” added the head of the OP.

When asked if the Russians could not keep their word on the issue of saving the lives of the Ukrainian military, Yermak said that “the GUR, by the way, is also dealing with this issue”: “The position of the head of state has not changed. He said that if anything happened to these people, any negotiations could be forgotten.. And he continues to hold this position until they return to our country.”.

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Recall, on June 4, Ukraine announced the first officially confirmed exchange of dead soldiers since the beginning of the war..

Then the two sides exchanged a total of 320 bodies, each of which received 160 sets of remains.. In total, the Ukrainian side has already received 220 bodies of the dead defenders of Mariupol.

According to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, more than 2.5 thousand Ukrainian fighters from Azovstal are in Russian captivity.. It was also previously reported that at least 177 civilians surrendered along with the military during a special operation to evacuate the plant..