“By direct order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief”: the Russian Defense Ministry spoke about the exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine

The June 29 exchange of prisoners of war between the allied forces and Ukraine in the 144 to 144 format was organized and carried out on the direct orders of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, said the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.

“Yesterday, June 29, 144 servicemen were exchanged for 144.

It was organized and held on the direct orders of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, since the lives, health, and release of our servicemen, the fighters of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, who make up the majority of the returnees, is the most important task.

Everything else later.

Almost all of those released are wounded or seriously wounded.

They are already receiving all the necessary medical care,” Konashenkov said.

He also recalled that the total number of Ukrainian servicemen captured or surrendered is more than 6 thousand people.

The day before, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, said that as part of the exchange of prisoners between Donetsk and Kyiv, 144 fighters of the DPR and the Russian Federation were returning home, among them “very valuable military personnel” and mobilized fighters.

At the same time, several ordinary nationalist battalions were issued to the Ukrainian side.

Also on russian.rt.com In the “144 by 144” format: the DPR and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war

Russia is exchanging seriously wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war, Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin noted during his speech at the plenary session.

“Indeed, exchanges are taking place, but substantive investigative measures are being taken against all members of the Azov battalion.

For everyone who is involved in what, what they did, and only in the case when they are seriously wounded, and in cases when the wounded will not participate in hostilities, such decisions are made,” he said.

The speaker of the lower house of parliament also called on the deputies to constantly support the participants in the special military operation: “It is important for us to do this not by chance, but constantly: to show respect and support to those who are fighting, to those who are being released from captivity, to meet with the families of servicemen.”

In March, the State Duma adopted a law recognizing participants in a special operation in Ukraine as combat veterans.

It entered into force on March 26 after being signed by Vladimir Putin.

According to the document, various measures of social support will apply to military personnel performing tasks during the military defense in support of Donbass from February 24, 2022.

Among them are additional payments from the state, tax benefits and housing and communal services.

In June, a bill was submitted to the State Duma on giving civilians involved in the tasks of a special military operation in support of Donbass the status of “combat veterans”.

“The actions of the Kyiv regime are a crime against humanity”

The actions of the Kyiv regime in Donbas can only be qualified as a crime against humanity.

This opinion was expressed by Vladimir Putin addressing the participants of the plenary session of the 10th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

“There is no other definition for the actions of the Kyiv regime, except as a crime against humanity,” the Russian president said.

The day before, the head of state pointed out that the goals of Russia's special military operation in support of Donbass, announced on February 24, have not changed.

According to him, representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Russian Federation are working calmly and rhythmically: “The troops are moving and reaching the lines that are set as a task at a certain stage of this combat work.

Everything goes according to plan".

In turn, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called the decision to conduct a special military operation in support of Donbass difficult, but balanced and forced.

“When all the means of a peaceful settlement were exhausted, when we did everything possible to resolve the situation by diplomatic means, it was no longer possible to do otherwise,” TASS quoted him as saying.

He emphasized that the purpose of the SVO is to protect people who have been subjected to "inhuman treatment and abuse by the Kyiv regime" for years.