Mariupol was besieged by the Russian army in May 2022, when the last soldiers defending the city’s Azovstal steelworks were evacuated.
The Russian Defense Ministry also announced that 25 Russian servicemen had been returned from Ukraine and were being sent first to Belarus, where they will receive psychological and medical care and contact their families.
In early January, Ukrainian ombudsman Dmitro Lubinets reported the existence of a preliminary agreement with the Russians for a systematic exchange of prisoners in 2025. Lubinets said the two countries will prioritize the return of captives who are seriously ill and wounded.
“We will see if the Russian side keeps its word,” Lubinets added in an interview.
Veronika Melkozerova contributed reporting to this story.