The Intelligence Agency and the Foreign Ministry conducted an operation to free Ukrainian sailors from Houthi captivity. Details to follow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) have conducted a joint operation to liberate three Ukrainian sailors from captivity held by the Houthis. They will soon be returning home.

This information was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing MFA.

According to the agency, the three Ukrainian sailors were detained during the seizure of the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in November 2023.

Currently, the released sailors are safe and under the care of Ukrainian diplomats. They are in good physical condition, have all the necessary documents, and will soon be returning home.

The MFA also expressed gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman and the Omani MFA for their attention to the fate of the sailors and for their mediating assistance in their release from captivity.

"We expect further active development of bilateral relations following the opening of a Ukrainian diplomatic mission abroad," the MFA added.

Details from GUR

As noted by the intelligence, the released sailors are already on their way to meet their families, after which they will undergo rehabilitation.

The operation to free the sailors lasted more than a year and involved a complex unofficial negotiation process with the Houthis and other involved parties.

The first contact with the captured Ukrainians was established on April 3, 2024, five months after the vessel was seized.

Seizure of Galaxy Leader

In November 2023, Yemeni Houthis captured the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader, which was sailing under the flag of the Bahamas with an international civilian crew in the Red Sea. At that time, there were 25 crew members from Bulgaria, the Philippines, Mexico, and Ukraine on board.

مشاهد للعملية العسكرية النوعية للقوات البحرية اليمنية على السفينة الإسرائيلية والسيطرة عليها واقتيادها إلى الساحل اليمني - 19-11-2023م pic.twitter.com/xukot1li7g

- الإعلام الحربي اليمني (@MMY1444) 20 ноября 2023 года

In January 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that four Ukrainian sailors were in captivity held by the Houthis and confirmed that Ukraine was working on their release.

Yesterday, January 22, Western media reported that the Houthis had released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, but there was no official confirmation of this at that time.