Donetsk, May 19 — DAN. Thirty-five servicemen of the Donetsk People’s Republic released from Ukrainian captivity in April have returned home, DPR Acting Head Denis Pushilin said on Friday.

“Anna Babitskaya is among the 35 servicemen; she has suffered cruel battery and torture, ” Pushilin said adding that Ukraine had spread false stories about her execution.

“The woman is returning to active duty, what courageous resilience!” the DPR leader said.

DPR ombudsperson Darya Morozova said that the servicemen were released in two prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine in April. Before returning to the DPR, they had rehabilitation therapy in Russian regions. Many had spent more than a year in Ukrainian prisons.*jk