The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry (GUR), Yosuf, commented on the absence of "Azov Battalion" soldiers from the list of prisoners of war for a large-scale exchange involving 1000-for-1000 swaps.
Yosuf stated that the exchange process is based on lists submitted by both sides, and Russia decides who they are willing to release. "Ukraine fights for every citizen. The garrison in Mariupol is one of the priorities for return under these extremely difficult conditions of full-scale invasion," he said.
He also reminded that since 2014, Russia has systematically ignored requests for the exchange of certain categories of prisoners of war, even outright refusing them, claiming that "these people are not prisoners of war and cannot be released within the scope of an exchange." The negotiation process is complex, and the GUR does not publicly disclose the exact number of Ukrainians held by Russian authorities.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833127070873609/
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