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5 days ago
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This is the emotional moment Ukrainian women who were prisoners of war (PoW) burst into tears as they are released from Russian captivity yesterday.
49 people were released from each side, including 23 Ukrainian women, in the 56th exchange of PoW's between Russia and Ukraine in their on-going war.
Amongst those released were soldiers, national guard members, police, border guards, defenders of Azovstal iron and steel works, and civilians.
One of the women, who was wrongly accused of spying and detained by Russia, was seen wrapped in a Ukrainian flag as she made an emotional first phone call to her mother.
Lenie Umerova, 26, had travelled from Ukraine to annexed Crimea during the war to care for her cancer-ridden father but was detained on bogus espionage charges.
She was locked in the notorious Lefortovo jail in Moscow facing accusations that could see her jailed for 20 years.
Released Ukrainian prisoners pose together with flags as they arrive home from Russian captivity
A group of Ukrainian women who were detained by Russia as PoW's pictured draped in their flag after their release
A Ukrainian man touches his head to Ukrainian soil after he was released from a Russian prison
Tears and smiles all around as women PoW's step off the bus from the Russian prison and land back on Ukrainian soil
Released PoW wave at their friends and family members from the coach as they arrived home
Hugs and smiles all around for the Ukrainians who were freed from Putin's prisons
One woman is seen overflowing with emotion as she makes a phone call after arriving home
Two women pose together draped in Ukrainian flags and carrying yellow and blue bunches of flowers given to them on arrival
Women shed tears of relief and share a group hug after finally making it home
One person makes a FaceTime call to a friend or loved one as they are on the coach home
'I'm so moved, I'm so happy,' she said in tears, after being part of the swap of 49 PoWs from each side, with 23 Ukrainian women coming home.
'There are no words to express how long I have been waiting for this day, how happy I am to see the Ukrainian flag. Thank you, friends.'
The emotional swapped Ukrainian prisoners of war sang a patriotic song on their arrival back on Kyiv-controlled soil.
Lenie was originally detained when she travelled to Russia from Georgia to visit her cancer-suffering father, and care for him.
She was subsequently freed as posing no threat to Russian national security.
But then she was kidnapped by unknown men, before being detained and accused of 'high treason'.
She vanished in Putin's hellhole jail system, her parents unable to find her.
An ethnic Crimean Tatar, she had moved to Kyiv after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Lenie Umerova on the phone to her mother after being released as a prisoner of war
Lenie had gone from Ukraine to annexed Crimea during the war to care for her cancer-ridden father but was detained on bogus espionage charges
Lenie was locked in the notorious Lefortovo jail in Moscow facing accusations that could see her jailed for 20 years
The model was in floods of tears as she spoke to her mother over the phone after she was released in the prisoner exchange
Lenie pictured crying on the coach as she is dropped back home on Ukrainian terf
Lenie is an ethnic Crimean Tatar and had moved to Kyiv after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014
Lenie holds flowers as she makes a phone call after she was released from Russian captivity
But despite the war she went back to help her ailing father only to become a captive who Putin could cynically trade by accusing her of espionage.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hailed her release, writing: 'In particular, Lenie Umerova - a girl who was taken hostage by the Russians when she came to take care of her sick father.
'I thank our entire team, which ensures the release of prisoners and hostages from Russian captivity.'
A total of 3,569 Ukrainians have returned home since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
One released prisoner of war told of how they were led out of Putin's hellish prison system with bags over their heads
A returned soldier shows a drawing that he kept with him whilst in captivity
Men who were released making phone calls to their loved ones on the coach back to Ukrainian soil
Women holding blue and yellow flowers look tired but relieved to be home as they cry and hug each other
Family members were reunited with each other in a highly emotional display
One woman looks at her released loved one in disbelief as her eyes well up with tears
One man fell to his knees as he made a phone call upon his release from Russian captivity
Each PoW was covered with a Ukrainian flag by service men as they stepped on their home soil
Women throw up peace signs as their coach pulls in to drop them off home to their friends and family
Released prisoners pose with flags as 49 civilian and military Ukrainians returned to Ukraine from captivity
A man waves from the window of the coach as he and other prisoners are dropped home
Another swapped Ukrainian woman was filmed in her first talk with her son and daughter, and her mother, since gaining her freedom.
The emotionally-charged conversations at such moments highlight the cruelty of Putin's war, forcing innocent people into captivity in Russia.
'Mum, I'm already in Ukraine…,' she said, desperate to see her children on the smartphone after perhaps years of missing them.
'Mum, I love everyone very, very much. Where are the children…?
'Call the children, please, mum?'
Voices shouted: 'Glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes!'
The mother saw her son on the screen, and then her daughter: 'Hello, hello, my son! Can you hear me?
'Mishenka, I am already home...Hi my little daughter, hello…
'We'll see each other soon.
'I love you all very, very much. I kiss you all…
'Mum, now everything is all right, it's all right.'
Hugs and kisses were shared between family members and loved ones who hadn't seen each other in months or years
A woman holds a Ukrainian flag after she was released in the PoW exchange
Men holding flags and singing their national anthem after they arrived home
One woman appears overwhelmed with emotions as she talks to a service man
Ukrainian PoW's wave to their family and friends as the coach pulls in to drop them home
A Ukrainian man who was freed from captivity wears his flag with pride
Friends and family eagerly waiting for the freed prisoners to get off the coach
A very tight hug between a mother and her son after he was released from a Russian prison
Anticipation in the air on the coach as the freed PoW arrived back on Ukrainian land
The drop off point was a sea of tears, smiles and the colours of the Ukrainian flag
One man holds a sentimental note close to his face as he is overcome with emotion upon his release
The head of the patronage service of the 12th special-purpose brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, Olena Tolkacheva (middle), embraces servicewomen of the Azov brigade after they are released from Russian captivity
A man is showered in sunlight as he gets a look at the freedom he is about to experience after being held captive by Russia
A woman PoW cheers as she steps off the coach on to Ukrainian soil
A PoW plays with a bracelet in the Ukrainian flag colours as they wait eagerly to arrive home on the bus
Tears and hugs are shared between friends and old colleagues as the PoW arrived home
The swap was arranged with the help of the United Arab Emirates.
'This exchange is special, because for the first time in a long time it was possible to free our women from captivity,' said the GUR Ukrainian military intelligence.
'Twenty-three of them were released.
'In particular, these are civilian Ukrainian women who were detained and illegally deprived of their liberty by the Russians even before the full-scale invasion.
'It was also possible to free women who were subjected to inhumane treatment, in particular due to their forced participation in the so-called 'trial' against the defenders of Mariupol.'
Another freed woman said: 'In my dreams, I wrote to my mum - "Pray, Mum, I'll be home, I'll be home".
'I felt it. A week before I had a dream that I was walking with my girls….
'Today, when we were leaving, people were leading us out with bags on our heads. I was the first in line.'
English (US)