Ukrainian pilot freed from Russian captivity

Alyona Mazurenko – Monday, 25 April 2022, 18:17

Roman Vasyliuk, the Ukrainian pilot of an Su-25 jet that was shot down by Russian air defence equipment over Donetsk Oblast in March, was freed from Russian captivity.

Source: Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

According to the Intelligence Directorate: "Lieutenant Colonel Roman Vasyliuk, a Ukrainian Su-25 pilot, was shot down by enemy air defence over Volnovakha in Donetsk Oblast on 14 March, while carrying out a combat mission. He was able to eject but was wounded and taken prisoner by the occupiers.

He went through numerous interrogations by Russian special services. Prior to his release, he was [receiving treatment] in the Donetsk Oblast Central Hospital."

Details: Vasyliuk returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory on 24 April.

Immediately after his liberation, he met with Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Ukrainian Chief Intelligence Directorate, and with Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

Vasyliuk is currently receiving the necessary medical assistance; he has been able to meet with his family.

According to Vasyliuk: "I’m not going to sit around in the hospital. I would like to be back on the battlefield in a month’s time and to fight until our country is completely liberated from the occupiers."