Ukrainian Sailors Return Home After 14-Month Captivity in Yemen

Ukrainian sailors, held captive by Houthi forces in Yemen for over 14 months, have safely returned home. The reunion with their families took place on January 25, at the Regional Military-Civil Administration in Odesa.

According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, the three sailors, crew members of the Galaxy Leader cargo vessel, were released following a complex operation involving extensive negotiations. The sailors had been detained since November 2023, when their vessel was seized by Houthi forces in the Red Sea.

One of the released sailors, Vitaliy, shared his reflections: “I still can’t believe I’m home… I am deeply grateful to everyone involved, especially the representatives of HUR. They were the first to establish contact with us. After that call, all doubts and fears disappeared—we knew we would be brought home.”

Olha Mosyondz, a representative of HUR, emphasized that the operation’s success was the result of coordinated efforts by multiple parties. “This mission was carried out under the direct instruction of the President of Ukraine and with the full support of the Royal Office of the Sultanate of Oman,” she stated.

The Galaxy Leader, a cargo vessel operating under the Bahamian flag, was captured on November 9, 2023, while sailing from Turkey to India. The ship, owned by a British company partially linked to Israeli businessman Rami Ungar, was under lease to a Japanese firm at the time. Its seizure drew international attention, as the crew included Ukrainian nationals.

Reports indicate that the operation to secure the sailors' release involved more than a year of unofficial negotiations with the Houthis and other relevant parties. Ukrainian authorities established initial contact with the captives in April 2024, laying the groundwork for their eventual return.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported that three Ukrainian sailors, captured by Yemeni Houthi rebels in November 2023, were successfully freed through a year-long operation conducted by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and MFA.