KYIV, Ukraine (NEWSnet/AP) — Ten Ukrainians who had been held prisoner for years were released from Russia captivity Friday, with the mediation of The Vatican, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Part of the group arrived overnight by helicopter at Kyiv International Airport, which has been closed since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The remainder arrived by bus.

Some of the released civilians were captured prior to Russia’s invasion.

Among the freed was Nariman Dzhelyal, deputy head of Mejlis, a representative body of Crimean Tatars that was relocated to Kyiv after Russia seized the peninsula. He was taken from Crimea, one year before the war.

“I was in captivity, where many Ukrainians remain,” he said. “We cannot leave them there, because the conditions, both psychological and physical, are very frightening there.”

For some, the separation has continued for many years, including Isabella Pekh, daughter of art historian Olena Pekh.

“I really want to hug you. I’ll be with you soon, Mommy,” Pekh said through a video call. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t meet you.”

For almost six years, Isabella appealed to foreign ambassadors for help in freeing her mother, who was detained in the occupied part of the Donetsk region. 

Two priests were among those who returned. One, Bohdan Heleta, was detained in 2022 inside his church in Berdiansk.

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 3,310 Ukrainians have been released from Russian captivity. Many thousands, both civilians and military personnel, remain imprisoned.

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