Zelensky announced the return of the defenders of Azovstal contained in Turkey to Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of five defenders of Azovstali to Ukraine, including Azov commanders who were captured after Russia's capture of Mariupol. In September, they were exchanged for Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, accused of cooperation with Moscow, and after that they lived in Istanbul, as stated, until the end of the war.

After the visit of Zelensky to Turkey, Denis Prokopenko, Sergey Volynsky, Svyatoslav Palamar, Denis Schleg, Oleg Khomenko returned to Kyiv. Until the September exchange, Moscow promised to betray them to the international tribunal in Donetsk or Mariupol.

The press service of the President of Ukraine published a video that shows that exchanged Ukrainians returned on the same plane with Zelensky. The conditions of liberation are not reported.

Five commanders were in Turkey under the personal guarantees of the President of the country, Recep Erdogan. Zelensky met with him on July 7 in Istanbul.

At the press conference, following the meeting, Zelensky said that Kyiv and Ankara are working together on the return of Ukrainian prisoners, political prisoners and (detained and convicted in Russia) Crimean Tatars. According to Erdogan, he planned to discuss this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone.

The Kremlin accused Ankara and Kyiv on Saturday of violation of agreements due to the return of the defense commanders "Azovstal". According to press secretary Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov, no one informed Russia about the return of Ukrainians home.