On 14 August, as part of the latest prisoner exchange, 84 Ukrainian citizens — 33 servicemembers and 51 civilians — returned to Ukraine. Among those released was Yaroslav Balitskyi, a resident of temporarily occupied Crimea, whom the Russian occupation «judicial» system had unlawfully sentenced in June this year to 20 years’ imprisonment on fabricated charges of «state treason.»

Balitskyi is currently in a medical facility, undergoing recovery. He reported that he is receiving the necessary assistance and is preparing for further rehabilitation.

Russian security forces in occupied Crimea have previously targeted Balitskyi. He was earlier unlawfully accused of «possessing an explosive device» and «planning to blow up power line supports.» The latest sentence was handed down by so-called «judge» Viktor Skliarov, who is currently under criminal investigation in Ukraine on suspicion of state treason.