LPR gets back two servicemen in prisoner exchange with Ukraine - ombudsperson

The Lugansk People’s Republic has brought home two fighters in the latest prisoner exchange with Ukraine, LPR ombudsperson Viktoria Serdyukova told the Lugansk Media Center.

 

Russia and Ukraine held a prisoner exchange on December 6. Sixty Russian servicemen including Donbass defenders from the LPR and DPR returned from Kiev-controlled territory. Ukraine also got back 60 people, mostly army personnel.

 

“Two LPR servicemen returned home as a result of the new prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. They were subjected to cruel torture in captivity and need serious treatment and rehabilitation. They have already been sent to medical centers,” Serdyukova said.

 

Head of the legal department of the LPR ombudsperson’s Office Alina Nechayeva said that as of December 1, 122 LPR militiamen had returned from Ukrainian captivity since the beginning of the special military operation (SVO). In the December 1 prisoner swap, Ukraine handed over eight LPR defenders.

 

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to protect Donbass residents from Ukrainian aggression. Prior to that, LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin asked the Russian leader to provide military assistance. On July 3, the LPR militia and Russian armed forces fully liberated the LPR territory from Ukrainian armed formations.

 

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The peace talks that began soon thereafter failed to reach tangible results due to Kiev’s position to settle the conflict by force.

 

The Lugansk People’s Republic became a part of Russia on September 30, 2022 following the unification referendum.*i*v