How many Chernobyl nuclear plant defenders remain in captivity with the Russians? This is the response from the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

During today's prisoner exchange, Ukraine managed to bring back five soldiers who defended the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Another 70 Chernobyl defenders remain in captivity.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Svitlana Hrynchuk, on Facebook.

According to her, among the 189 Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity today were five soldiers from military unit No. 3041, who guarded the Chernobyl NPP at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. They spent more than two years in captivity.

"Unfortunately, 70 Chernobyl defenders still remain in captivity. We remember them and will continue the fight for each one," Hrynchuk emphasized.

Prisoner Exchange

As a reminder, today, December 30, another prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia. A total of 187 defenders and two civilians captured in Mariupol were able to return home.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, defenders of “Azovstal”, Chernobyl, Zmiinyi Island, and soldiers who fought in other directions were freed.

In turn, the commander of the "Azov" brigade, Denys Prokopenko, specified that 11 "Azov" soldiers were released during the prisoner exchange.

The soldiers endured 86 days of defense in Mariupol, captivity, imprisonment, and torture.