Ukraine in talks on exchange of 169 National Guard soldiers who were taken prisoner at Chornobyl plant – interior minister

That's according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, Ukrinform reports, citing the Interior Ministry's press service.

"Chornobyl is a tragic page in our history. Unfortunately, we have to state that 169 servicemen of the National Guard were taken prisoner there. Today, as far as we know, some of them are in Belarus and some of them are in Russia," he said.

Monastyrsky clarified that negotiations are underway on their exchange, which will be possible only after the active phase of hostilities is over.

On March 31, fleeing the territory of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, Russian invaders took the Ukrainian National Guard soldiers prisoner. They have been held captive at the plant since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.