Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00On this bus, filled with recently freed Ukrainians, the atmosphere is one of celebration.
00:10Just a few hours earlier, they were still Russian prisoners.
00:13Some had been so since the start of the war.
00:16When they finally arrived home, they were greeted as heroes by their loved ones.
00:21I'm euphoric, it hasn't sunk in that I'm free, although I've waited every minute, and my
00:29family have waited.
00:30Honestly, I thought I would never be free.
00:33It's like a new start.
00:37My son is five years old now.
00:38The last time I saw him, he was two years old.
00:41That's why my son probably didn't recognize me.
00:44I used to have a beard and hair.
00:46He was two years old.
00:47I've lost 20 kilos.
00:50All in all, 189 Ukrainians were freed, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
00:58He was quick to thank the United Arab Emirates for the role they played in the exchange,
01:02the country having served as a mediator.
01:06On the Russian side, the defence ministry said that there were 150 soldiers included
01:10as part of the swap.
01:13The prisoners were released on Belarusian soil before being repatriated to Russia.
01:19I thank you for your service, for your patience, for enduring all the difficulties.
01:24We are very happy that our Ministry of Defence worked hard to organize your return.
01:28Our president was very worried about you, and you are almost home.
01:32This is the 59th prisoner exchange since the Russian invasion back in February 2022,
01:38with nearly 4,000 Ukrainians released since the outbreak of the war.