The press service of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) announced the successful evacuation of three Ukrainian sailors, carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sailors, who were part of the crew of the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader, had been held captive by Houthi forces in Yemen for over a year.
The freed Ukrainian sailors are currently on their way to reunite with their families and will undergo a rehabilitation period. Ukraine’s intelligence agency emphasized that the operation to rescue the citizens was carried out with comprehensive support from the Royal Office of the Sultanate of Oman. They also expressed gratitude to their Omani partners for their assistance in the operation and the release of the sailors.
Since November 2023, Houthi forces have carried out over 100 attacks on vessels navigating the Red Sea. The Ukrainian sailors were captured by Yemeni Houthis on November 19, 2023, while their ship was en route from Turkey to India. The vessel, owned by Galaxy Maritime, had a crew of 25 members, including citizens of Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania.
The joint operation by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the sailors’ release lasted more than a year. It involved a complex, informal negotiation process with the Houthis and other parties connected to the situation surrounding the detained cargo ship.
Military intelligence operatives established direct contact with the captured Ukrainian sailors in early April 2024, marking the first communication after five months of effort. During this interaction, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR) assured the sailors that every effort would be made to secure their release. On January 22, 2025, after months of negotiations and coordination, the Ukrainian citizens were finally freed.
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