Zelensky thanks Erdogan for returning former Ukrainian commanders home

At a special ceremony in the town of Lviv on Saturday, President Zelenskky named heroes the former commanders who fought in Mariupol. He expressed gratitude to the Turkish side and to President Erdogan for his help in releasing the former commanders.

The former commanders headed last year to fight for the protection of the port of Marioupolis, the largest city the Russians have taken control of during their aggression.

Ukrainian defence forces resisted tunnels and bunkers under the Assovastal plant until they received orders from Kiev to surrender.

More than two thousand were captured in war by Russia.

Moscow freed some of the Ukrainian forces in September, following an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war brokered by Ankara, under which the former commanders had to stay in Turkey until the end of the war.

So far there is no clear explanation from Ankara or Kiev why they were allowed to return to Ukraine.

A day earlier, after the news became known, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Turkey had violated the terms of the agreement and had not informed Moscow.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the mass held to mark the 500th day of the Ukrainian fighting in front of Russian troops.

According to a Ukrainian Presidency report, representatives of religious communities prayed for peace, victory, and liberation of the country. / VOA