Commanders of Mariupol Defenders and Azov Steel Return to Ukraine from Turkey

The commanders of the Azov Regiment, who defended Mariupol and the Azov Steel plant from Russian aggressors, have returned to Ukraine from Turkey. This was reported in President Volodymyr Zelensky's Telegram channel.

"We are returning home from Turkey, bringing our Heroes back home. Ukrainian soldiers Denis Prokopenko, Sviatoslav Palamar, Serhiy Volynskyi, Oleh Khomenko, and Denis Shlega will finally be reunited with their families. Glory to Ukraine!" the statement reads.

Recall that on September 21, 2022, as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange, Ukraine repatriated 213 Ukrainian defenders, including the commanders of the Azov Regiment who defended Mariupol and Azov Steel from Russian aggressors.

As part of the exchange, the commander of the National Guard's Azov Regiment, Denis Prokopenko (Redis), his deputy Sviatoslav Palamar, the acting commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade Serhiy Volynskyi (Volyna), senior officer of Azov Oleh Khomenko, and the commander of the 12th National Guard Brigade Denis Shlega were transported to Turkey. They were supposed to stay there until the end of the war under the personal guarantees of protection from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Currently, more than 2,500 defenders of Mariupol from the Azov Steel plant remain in Russian captivity, and their liberation is being pursued by military intelligence.

It should be noted that on the evening of Friday, July 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on an official visit. Following the negotiations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ukraine deserves to become a member of NATO.