According to him, the Kremlin kept making “strange” exchange offers, trying to reduce the number of Ukrainian soldiers on the lists.

The negotiation process was very difficult , but he went almost immediately with the start of negotiations on the withdrawal from Azovstal. People were leaving and negotiations were already beginning on how they would then return to Ukraine. Of course, there were preliminary agreements, which Russia tried to refuse several times, – added the representative of the OP.

How Ukraine returned the captured defenders of Azovstal: watch the video

Organizers of the exchange

Podolyak said that not only Russia and Ukraine, but also other countries and organizations that contributed to the exchange participated in the exchange resolving disputes between the parties.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia participated. There were also international institutions, including the UN. A lot of people participated as intermediaries. It was on Azovstal and Mariupol that the process was moderated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Chairman of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak and Budanov, – stressed the adviser to the head of the Presidential Office.

He noted that, in particular, Yermak was negotiating exchange “at the level of special services of other countries”, and the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, carried out the logistical coordination of preliminary agreements.

Who was exchanged

Podolyak noted that Ukraine received 215 soldiers, among them 108 servicemenrelated to the “Azov” national regiment, as well as 5 commanders.

These commanders will remain in Turkey under the patronage of Mr. Erdogan until the end of the war. And there are 10 foreigners: 5 British, 2 Americans, a Swede, a Croat and a Moroccan – they left for their countries. Previously, they signed contracts and fought as combatants. Therefore, they had every right to be part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the official explained.

In his opinion, it is important for Ukraine that the countries whose citizens are foreign defenders of Ukraine receive them back. Since, according to him, 2 weeks ago, Britain received the body of volunteer Paul Ury, “which the Russians tore to pieces.”

“Field Marshal” Medvedchuk

The adviser to the head of the Presidential Administration also explained the significance of Viktor Medvedchuk's ex-people's deputy in the exchange.

They wanted to give far fewer people for “Field Marshal” Medvedchuk. This is an extremely weak intellectually person who sold himself as a great connoisseur of Ukrainian history and “court cases”. He was a “swindler” who made money by producing myths about Ukraine, which allegedly can be brought to its knees in three days, Podolyak pointed out.

In his opinion, Medvedchuk became the personification of a concept supported by “those interested in earning big money on the plan to seize Ukraine”.

“This has been going on since 2008, for which a lot of money was allocated. Mr. Medvedchuk made very good money on this,” the adviser concluded.

The exchange of defenders Azovstal: what is known

• On September 21, Ukraine managed to release from captivity 215 Heroes defending Azovstal in Mariupol.
• Among them are such well-known commanders as Denis Prokopenko, Svyatoslav Palamar, Sergei Volynsky. However, until the end of the war they will be in Turkey under the protectorate of the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• To free the defenders, Ukraine gave Putin's godfather Medvedchuk and 55 other traitors and infidels to Russia.

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