The Chief Representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, emphasized during his speech on the national telethon the significant achievements in the ongoing exchange process with Russia, which is currently at a new, more complex stage
According to him, the Ukrainian side continues to persistently and diligently negotiate with the aggressor country despite serious pressure and numerous challenges that complicate this process. Yusov highlighted that despite all the difficulties, during the second stage of the exchange on June 10, Ukraine managed to bring home the first seriously wounded and ill soldiers. This was a substantial achievement, as many of them were in extremely critical condition—immediately after transportation in ambulances, they were taken to hospitals, and small details often go unnoticed that reveal the scale of the tragedy. “We have returned several officers—this is a special and important part of our work. The difficult conditions under which this process occurs are not overlooked. In the footage, you see the condition of our prisoners, but many of them, due to their severe state, are not shown—immediately from the ambulance, they are taken to medical facilities,” Yusov noted. He added that among those returned are people with amputations, loss of sight, diagnoses of hepatitis, tuberculosis, and other complications caused by Russian captivity. All of them require immediate medical assistance, and work is already underway to continue the exchange and prepare for the upcoming stages of this complex and delicate process. In response to the question of how difficult the current negotiations and exchange overall were, Yusov stated that none of the stages proceeded without difficulties. The Ukrainian side is operating under very challenging conditions because Russia systematically violates international humanitarian law, abuses the Geneva Conventions, and cynically uses them for its own purposes to achieve political and military objectives. “Today’s negotiations took place in an extremely tense situation. Throughout this time, the enemy has been actively conducting disinformation campaigns, attempting to exert psychological pressure on the relatives of our prisoners, and manipulating information to sow discord and weaken the morale of Ukrainian defenders,” he emphasized. At the same time, Yusov called for caution in publishing and disseminating information. He believes that until all stages of the exchange are completed, it is not advisable to share specific numbers or details that could influence the negotiation process. “We are obliged to maintain confidentiality and wait for all agreements to be finalized to avoid additional risks and ensure the safest and most effective outcome for our defenders,” the GUR representative concluded. Thus, Ukraine continues to work persistently under difficult conditions of diplomatic confrontation and military struggle for its citizens, holding onto hope for the future, believing in the preservation of human lives and the dignity of every individual in captivity. At the same time, this process remains extremely delicate and unpredictable, requiring all participants to exercise high responsibility and adhere to international norms to achieve the ultimate goal – the return home of each Ukrainian hero.