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Adik, the pit bull terrier stolen by Russian soldiers and given to Chechen leader Kadyrov as a trophy, is finally returned to a Ukrainian servicewoman in the New Year’s prisoner exchange.
- Dog Adik has been released in a New Year prisoner swap of more than 200 soldiers
- The American Pit Bull Terrier was captured in June at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works.
- Then Adik was presented to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, as a “trophy”.
- But now he has returned to Ukraine along with 140 Ukrainian Mariupol defenders.
A dog stolen by Russian soldiers and given to Chechen leader Kadyrov as a “trophy” has finally been freed and returned to a Ukrainian military in a New Year prisoner exchange.
American Pit Bull Terrier Adik was taken from a Ukrainian military woman in June and reportedly given as a “trophy” to Chechnya chief Ramzan Kadyrov.
But Adik has now returned to Ukraine, as part of a New Year’s prisoner exchange in which 140 Ukrainian soldiers were freed from Russia.
Adik was taken prisoner by the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, along with its owner and the defenders of Mariupol.
American Pit Bull Terrier Adik was taken from a Ukrainian military at Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in June
Adik has now returned to Ukraine, as part of a New Year’s prisoner exchange in which 140 Ukrainian soldiers were freed from Russia.
It was handed over to the special services before volunteer Yuriy Kovanov gave it to Kadyrov, who renamed it Adidas.
A tweet with a photo of Adik read: ‘Ukraine needs everyone! A pit bull terrier, who was defending Mariupol together with our soldiers, was released from RuZZsian captivity!’
More than 200 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers were freed in the prisoner swap, which took place at undisclosed locations.
The footage captured the relief on the faces of the Ukrainian soldiers as they celebrated their freedom among themselves.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced today that Ukraine had released a total of 82 Russian soldiers.
Adik was taken prisoner by the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, along with its owner and the defenders of Mariupol.
A tweet with a photo of Adik read: ‘Ukraine needs everyone! A pit bull terrier, who defended Mariupol together with our soldiers, was released from RuZZsian captivity!
Akin was handed over to the special services before volunteer Yuriy Kovanov presented him to Ramzan Kadyrov (left) as a “trophy”.
In return, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said that Russia had handed over 140 Ukrainian servicemen.
Some of the liberated Ukrainian soldiers, 132 men and eight women, had fought to defend the Black Sea port city of Mariupol and on Snake Island, according to the Yermak Telegram channel. Many of them had been injured in the conflict.
The two sides have swapped hundreds of captured soldiers in various rounds of prisoner swaps in recent months, despite a complete breakdown in broader diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukrainian military personnel clad in their military uniforms exited a series of buses at the undisclosed location on Saturday.
The now free soldiers hugged their loved ones as they were released as prisoners of war today.
The soldiers shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ when they got off the buses and were released, many of them raised their hands in the air in celebration.
Smiles broke out on their faces as they met their loved ones and Ukrainian officials who provided them with white bags that appeared to contain essential supplies and documentation.
They then lined up to pose for a photo with an array of Ukrainian flags. Again, they shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine!’, clapping and cheering among themselves.