The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine announced another exchange of prisoners, thanks to which 144 Ukrainian defenders returned home. This is the biggest exchange since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.. Of the 144 released - 95 defenders of Azovstal, among whom are 43 servicemen of the Azov regiment.

According to the GUR, in general, the following have been released:.

59 National Guard soldiers;

30 - Naval Forces;

28 - Armed Forces of Ukraine.

17 - State Border Guard Service of Ukraine;

9 - Territorial Defense;

1 - National Police of Ukraine.

It is noted that among them 23 officers and 69 military sergeants and senior officers. The eldest of the dismissed was 65 years old, the youngest - 19.

“Most of the released Ukrainians have severe injuries: gunshot and shrapnel wounds, explosive injuries, burns, fractures, limb amputations.. All of them receive proper emergency medical and psychological assistance,” the Coordinating Headquarters for the release of prisoners noted..

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As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported, more than 2.5 thousand Ukrainian fighters from Azovstal are in Russian captivity, who were taken out of the city on the condition of their further exchange with the Ukrainian side.

It was also previously reported that at least 177 civilians surrendered along with the military during a special operation to evacuate the plant..

Also, the bodies of the dead defenders of the city are delivered from Mariupol to the territory controlled by Ukraine.. Identification of the bodies of the dead defenders of Mariupol may take several months, since this will require a number of examinations for each deceased, said the former commander of the Azov regiment Maxim Zhorin.