Ukraine had been preparing for much larger number of POWs to return, Ukrainian intelligence says
Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has said Ukraine had been working on securing the return of a significantly larger number of POWs than the 182 people freed on 11 April, but he hopes this exchange will be "only the beginning of an Easter swap".
Source: Yusov in a comment to Ukrinform
Quote: "Of course, the return of 182 people is a lot, but preparations had been underway and there had been hopes and Ukraine had been working on a significantly larger number of our defenders returning ahead of Easter. Sadly, the enemy rejected these humanitarian initiatives by Ukraine, which we were willing to undertake, as with many other things.
Meanwhile, the work continues. We can very cautiously say that the measures will continue in the near future, the operation will continue, and we will be able to say that today was only the beginning of the Easter swap."
Background:
- On 11 April, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange that resulted in Ukraine bringing home 175 military personnel and seven civilians.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he hopes that exchanges with Russia will continue in the near future.
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