JAKARTA - Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konahenkov said the exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine took place at the direct order of President Vladimir Putin.
"Yesterday, June 29, the exchange of 144 for 144 military personnel took place. It was arranged and carried out by direct order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, since the life, health, release of our military personnel, fighters of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, who made up the majority of returning ," explained Konashenkov as reported by RIA June 30.
"This is the most important task," he continued.
He further explained that almost all of those released were injured or seriously injured. They are provided with the necessary medical care.
Konashenkov also recalled that the total number of Ukrainian soldiers captured or surrendered was more than six thousand people.
Meanwhile, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, said ahead of the prisoner-of-war swap, among those handed over to Ukraine were several ordinary nationalist battalions in deplorable condition, with amputated limbs and "other complications."
Separately, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (GUR) said in a statement on Telegram that the majority of Ukrainian prisoners were seriously injured, suffering from gunshot and shrapnel wounds, blast trauma, burns, broken bones and amputated limbs.
Hundreds more Ukrainians are thought to be detained by Russia and pro-Moscow separatist proxies in eastern Ukraine, but their whereabouts are unknown.
It is known, in particular, that Kyiv was concerned about the fate of hundreds of fighters from the Azov regiment who played an important role in the defense of Mariupol and the Azovstal steelworks, before being besieged and finally laying down their weapons.
The prisoner swap included the surrender of 43 members of the Azov regiment, a National Guard unit Russia says is a dangerous far-right battalion, a promising sign for Ukraine hoping for the release of other fighters from the unit.
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