11 soldiers of Azov Brigade have returned from Russian captivity, having endured nearly three years of harsh trials - Prokopenko
During the exchange of POWs on Monday, December 30, 11 servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov" returned to Ukraine from the Russian hell.
This was reported by the commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov" of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel Denis Prokopenko (Redis), Censor.NET reports.
They went through extremely harsh trials that lasted almost 3 years. 86 days of defense of Mariupol, heavy battles at the limit of human capabilities, captivity, prisons, interrogations, torture. They did not give up and came out of this hell as winners," he said.
He congratulated every soldier on the return, who will now be able to see and hug their families, spend the winter holidays with their loved ones, "and not under the supervision of prison guards."
Prokopenko thanked the liberated fighters for their courage and strength of spirit.
The Azov commander expressed special gratitude to the brigade's fighters who captured 68 militants in the Toretsk direction and to all units of the Joint Forces Operation that replenished the exchange fund in all areas of the front.
"You are making a huge contribution to the return of our prisoners of war, and I am grateful for your work. I would like to thank the President of Ukraine and his team, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders and everyone who works every day to bring our prisoners back to Ukraine," Prokopenko added.
As a reminder, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war on December 30. They managed to return 189 Ukrainian defenders home.
