.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced Friday that 49 Ukrainian POWs had been actually come back from Russia, along with AFP observing the team being welcomed at the border along with Belarus.Zelensky did not make clear whether it belonged to an exchange with Russia, as is actually typically the situation, however AFP reporters had actually earlier viewed Russian prisoners of war being filled onto a bus near the border.It will be actually the 2nd exchange between the warring countries since Kyiv's shock incursion right into Russia's Kursk region.Zelensky claimed civilians were additionally among the returnees, featuring a "gal who was hijacked when she involved handle her unwell papa.".He mentioned the swap also consisted of fighters from Mariupol's 2022 Azovstal war, and also soldiers, perimeter protectors and also law enforcement agents.AFP contacted two girls in their 20s covered in Ukrainian banners and getting flowers, that stated they were at the Azovstal plant that was up to Russia after a siege in 2022." I'm eventually home, I can not think it," pointed out 28-year-old Tamara Miroshnikova, leader of an equipped vehicle of Ukraine's National Guard, stated.An additional female, 29-year-old Tetiana Bugay, mentioned she was actually a paramedic at the Azov brigade that fought for Azovstal.Previously, AFP found the Ukrainian army driving Russian POWs in a bus, some were actually wearing bonnets hiding their skins, which were removed as they were actually filled into a minivan.AFP spoke to a number of them temporarily, and all those that spoke claimed they were captured throughout Ukraine's shock Kursk onslaught final month.