Latest news with #Azov
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says
A total of 1,279 of the approximately 2,500 Azov fighters held in Russian captivity as POWs have been returned to Ukraine since being captured, including 455 from the Azov Brigade, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on May 28. The confirmed statistic, which includes soldiers in multiple units who fought to defend the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, comes amid social media outcry criticizing Ukrainian authorities for failing to return certain captives, including Azov fighters, during the war's largest 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange, which concluded on May 25. "Behind each number is a human life, and no statistics can replace loved ones for individual families," Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters told Radio Liberty on May 28. Ukrainian society has rallied for captured Azov fighters who defended the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol during the Russian siege of the port city in 2022. The battle, one of the most brutal of the entire war, is credited with buying time for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to prepare itself and receive international military aid against Russia's invasion during the initial phase of the war. Azovstal defenders were ordered to surrender to the encircling Russian forces after nearly two months of constant bombardment of the besieged plant. While hundreds of these fighters have been released since 2022, hundreds more remain in captivity. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, described the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange as a "mockery" due to the lack of fighters from the Azov Brigade, in a post on Facebook on May 25. "Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working under extremely difficult conditions amid the full-scale invasion, and the Mariupol garrison remains one of the top priorities for repatriation," Yusov said on May 25 in response to to the frustration seen on social media. Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the mass exchange, pledged to "bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity." The three days of prisoner exchanges were negotiated by Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16th, during the first direct talks between the two countries in three years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 28 that Moscow has proposed June 2 as the date for the next round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Read also: Moscow proposes next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on June 2 in Istanbul We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
North Korean soldiers were not part of latest large prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia
North Korean soldiers currently held captive in Ukraine were not included in the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Source: Yonhap News Agency, citing a statement by South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-won Details: Yu Yong-won said that two soldiers with the surnames Ri and Baek were not included in the list of prisoners exchanged between Ukraine and Russia, which took place from Friday to Sunday. He referred to a Ukrainian source. Yu added that the decision not to include the North Koreans on the list was made at Seoul's request. South Korea has said it is ready to accept the soldiers if they want to move to South Korea. One of them, Ri, has already expressed such an intention. MP Yu Yong-won met with both prisoners during his visit to Ukraine in February. One of the prisoners, Ri, expressed concern in a published audio recording that his parents could be executed if he returned to North Korea as part of the exchange. The MP called on the South Korean government to take steps to enable them to come to South Korea. Quote from Yu: "(Ri) is anticipating a tragic end for himself and his parents if he is repatriated to North Korea." Background: On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia carried out the third part of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange which was agreed upon in Türkiye. Another 303 Ukrainian defenders had been released from Russian captivity. Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, said that during the three-day exchange of POWs with Russia, not a single Azov soldier was exchanged, and he does not believe that the authorities are interested in getting these fighters back. Writer and former Kremlin political prisoner Stanislav Aseiev reported that among those released in the exchange, there were no civilians who had been held captive by Russia for eight years. In April 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed that troops had been sent to Russia to fight against Ukraine, stating that this was in accordance with the provisions of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We could not influence the list' — Ukraine reacts to reported inclusion of alleged defector in prisoner swap with Russia
Ukraine could not influence who Russia decided to release in the recent 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, said Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), in comments for Suspilne published on May 26. The statement came in reaction to claims that Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia, was released by Moscow during the second phase of the prisoner exchange on May 24. Multiple media outlets recorded a man resembling Taranenko during the swap. Taranenko surrendered to Russian proxy forces in Donetsk Oblast in 2021 and was accused of seeking to defect to Russia's side and harm his fellow Ukrainian soldiers. He then appeared in the Russian media in what was described as staged propaganda stunts. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, and Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the accusations. Ukrainian investigators are working to identify Taranenko and verify the accusations, Yusov told Suspilne, adding that "law enforcement agencies will take an appropriate response" if the claims are confirmed. Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war. The Russian media reported that a man named "Anatolii Taranenko" was released in the exchange, while Ukraine has not published the official lists. "We could not influence the list. Russia handed over who it was ready to hand over, and Ukraine as well," Yusov explained, adding that the exchange was arranged in a short time frame. The swap was the only tangible result of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on May 16, the first such negotiations in three years. The exchange, which mostly included military captives, was carried out in three phases between May 23 and 25. Kyiv and Moscow have previously held a number of prisoner exchanges during the full-scale war, which were more limited in scope and mediated by third-party countries. "Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working under extremely difficult conditions amid the full-scale invasion, and the Mariupol garrison remains one of the top priorities for repatriation," Yusov said last week. Read also: Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian forces have captured 971 Russian troops during Kursk operation – Ukraine's General Staff
Ukraine's General Staff has stated that the Ukrainian defence forces have captured 971 Russian service members since the beginning of the ongoing offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "To free our people from the enemy's torture chambers, the defence forces are relentlessly replenishing the POW exchange pool with Russian soldiers and officers. The Kursk offensive operation has been the most effective effort in this regard. Between 6 August 2024 and 25 May 2025, our defenders have captured 971 members of the Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian defence forces continue to conduct active operations in Kursk Oblast." Details: The General Staff emphasised that a numerically superior adversary can only be defeated through unconventional approaches, describing the Kursk campaign as "an unexpected and asymmetric move whose success has been acknowledged internationally". Quote: "The fight continues – for our territory and our people. Ukraine leaves no one behind." Background: On Friday 23 May, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, resulting in the return of 390 Ukrainians – 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. On Saturday, a further 307 Ukrainian defenders, all men of private and sergeant rank, were brought back from Russian captivity. On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia completed the third phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, liberating another 303 Ukrainian defenders. Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, has stated that not a single Azov fighter was included in the recent three-day prisoner exchange with Russia. He said he does not believe the Ukrainian authorities are interested in bringing them back. Journalist Stanislav Aseyev has drawn attention to the plight of civilians who have been held in Russian captivity for eight years, pointing out that not one of them was among those released during the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Complete vehicle list in RoadCraft
Image via Focus Entertainment Released in May 2025, Roadcraft is a construction and recovery simulator from Focus Entertainment. In a world struck by a natural disaster, the game challenges players to construct and rebuild the broken infrastructure by using powerful, specialized vehicles. Each vehicle is designed with realistic mechanics and unique capabilities. Understanding how each vehicle works is key to managing the complicated task you will face in this game. This article provides you with a complete vehicle list in Roadcraft, organized by function to help the player master the tools. Full breakdown of the vehicle in Roadcraft. RoadCraft All Vehicles 45+ Showcase + Gameplay Everything You Need to Know The Roadcraft includes a wide array of 40 vehicles, each of which is designed for a specific task, such as hauling, digging, grading, collecting, and emergency response. Here is a closer look at the different types of vehicle categories: 1. Cargo transport vehicles These are your go-to machines for operating supplies, materials, or cargo between zones. Azov 43-17 DL Greenway 740 Cross MTK Proseka 200 MULE T1 Voron 3327 Baikal 59-16 Wayfarer ST7050 Zikz 605E Zikz 612C Vostok ATM-53 Pioneer Minuteman K350 Minuteman K350 Rescue 2. Heavy machinery and earthmoving equipment These vehicles are designed for large-scale construction tasks. These machines can handle heavy lifting, excavation, and grading. Arling Roadworks 120 Special Arling Roadworks 750R Kronenwerk L-34 Newton & Steig 700/R Newton & Steig 700/S Newton & Steig Loader 20G DS 135A "Bunker" DS 55K "Katok" EPEC HWC-945 EPEC LT 200 EPEC TC-305 Tayga 6455B TUZ 303 "Karelian" Vostok TK-53 "Krot" Vostok MU-97 "Ant" 3. Specialized utility vehicles These vehicles can perform a specific function, such as emergency response, forestry operations, and special construction tasks. Aramatsu Crayfish Aramatsu Forester Neo Aramatsu Kite 3 Armiger Thunder IV Armiger Thunder SAR KHAN Lo "Strannik" Nota Allegro Step 39331 "Pike" TUZ 119 "Lynx" Warden Kochevnik ATV DON 72 "Malamute" MTK 100M MTK MD-76 4. DLC and bonus vehicles The additional vehicles are available through downloadable content or a specific edition. Aramatsu Bowhead 30T (DLC) Invictus Type A (DLC) Roadcraft not only offers a wide array of vehicles, but it also gives players an expertly modeled machine, each of which is crafted to simulate the real-world construction and recovery operation. Knowing which vehicle to use at what time is the real deal. Whether you are transporting critical supplies, clearing wreckage, or reconstructing a damaged bridge, Roadcraft's detailed vehicle mechanism system ensures that every mission feels satisfying and grounded. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
