In Odesa, relatives met sailors released from Houthi captivity (video)

The sailors were returned from long-term captivity in Yemen thanks to a special operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The released sailors, members of the crew of the Galaxy Leader vessel, returned to Odesa on January 25, 2025. This was reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine.

They were met by relatives, friends and government representatives in the building of the regional military-civil administration.

“I still don’t realize that I’m home… I am very grateful to everyone involved, especially to the representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate. They were the first to contact us. After this conversation, there were no more doubts or fears – they know about us, they will return us,” said Vitaliy, one of the released sailors.

We will remind, that on the eve of the Defense Intelligence, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, evacuated three Ukrainian sailors who had been held captive by the Yemeni Houthis since November 2023 – a total of 14 months.

“What happened today is the result of the coordinated, long-term work of a large number of people. The special operation was implemented on the instructions of the President of Ukraine and thanks to the comprehensive support of the Royal Office of the Sultanate of Oman,” said Olga Mosyondz, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense.

Recently, USM wrote that the United States has again recognized the Yemeni Houthis as a terrorist organization.