'Ukrainian prisoner's emotional reunion call with father released amid mass captive return'
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On Wednesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled the return of 207 more Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity. The state's leader noted that this party comprised both soldiers and civilians.
Emotional conversation of the returned captive from Ukraine
"We hold every captive man and woman in our memory. We are committed to securing the return of all. We're tirelessly working towards it," Zelensky emphasised in an announcement released on Telegram.
An emotional recording portraying the initial telephonic interaction between a Ukrainian soldier and his father made its way online recently. The parents had been in dark all this time, clueless about whether their son was still alive.
"Yes, dad. It's me, I'm alive. I'm in Ukraine. I've been exchanged. I'm in Ukraine. I'm sustaining. Yes, dad, I'm alive. Everything's alright, dad," the Ukrainian soldier reiterated with a shaky voice.
In the recording, we can hear the soldier's father, evidently moved by the phone call. The soldier also expressed a desire to speak with his mother, who was at her workplace then.
"I'll contact her instantaneously," replied the father, struggling to control his emotions.
Appreciations to Budanov and Jermak
President Zelensky expressed his gratitude to a few dignitaries including the Chief of Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Andriy Yermak - the Head of the Office of the State, and the Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Gen. Vasily Maluk, who played an instrumental role in facilitating the return of the prisoners.
"Till date, 49 prisoner exchanges have been successfully executed. 2828 people have managed to return home, which includes 2681 soldiers and 147 civilians. As per today's data, more than 8,000 individuals, inclusive of over 1,600 civilians, are currently held captive," informed Yuriy Taraniuk, a representative of the Ukrainian coordinating staff for prisoner exchange, on January 24.
