Ukrainian sailors freed from Houthi captivity have returned home.

Three Ukrainian sailors who had been held captive by Yemeni Houthis for over a year have returned home. This was reported on Saturday, January 25, by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.   It was noted that on January 25, the sailors reunited with their families at the building of the Odesa Regional Military-Civil Administration.   "I still can't believe that I'm home... I am very grateful to everyone involved, especially the representatives of the GUR. They were the first to get in touch with us. After that conversation, there were no more doubts or fears – they know about us, and we will be returned," said Vitaliy, who was freed from captivity.   Earlier, Reuters, citing the Houthi TV channel Al Masirah, reported that Yemeni Houthis released the crew of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader more than a year after they captured the vessel flying the Bahamian flag off the coast of the Red Sea in Yemen. Among the crew members are also citizens of Ukraine.   On November 9, 2023, the Houthis seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, which had, among others, Ukrainians on board. A Japanese company had chartered the Galaxy Leader from a British firm, partially owned by Israeli Rami Ungar. The vessel had departed from a port in Turkey heading towards India and was sailing under the Bahamian flag.  

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  It was previously reported that the operation to free three crew members of the Galaxy Leader lasted over a year and involved a complex unofficial negotiation process with the Houthis and other parties.   Recall that the Yemeni Houthis published a video of the capture of the Galaxy Leader with an international civilian crew in the Red Sea. A helicopter with armed militants landed on the ship.