A Ukrainian prisoner of war reacts, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, as she arrives in Zaporizhzhia
(Picture: REUTERS)More than 100 Ukrainian women have been released from a Russian prison in what is reportedly the largest swap of detainees in the war.
Both sides agreed to exchange 110 prisoners although the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, said only 108 left Russia as two wanted to stay.
On the Ukrainian side, women reported they did not know about the exchange until the last minute. It has been reported that 12 were civilians and 37 were captured by Russian forces.
Those captured were said to be officers, sergeants, and privates in the armed forces as well as those serving as medics.
Among the latter group is Viktoria Obidina, who was separated from her family when Mariupol fell, and was quoted by Sky News as saying: "I will go to see my daughter - I want to see her so bad.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that all of those released were captured “long before” the full scale war broke out.
"We do not forget about any of our people - we have to return them all,” he said in his nightly address. “And we will return them all."
"The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we will be able to free our heroes,” he added.
“Every Ukrainian warrior, every frontline commander should remember this.
"I am grateful to all involved for this success, and I also thank all those who replenish our exchange fund, who ensure the capture of enemies."
