In a significant development ahead of Easter, Ukraine successfully facilitated the return of 182 individuals from Russian captivity on April 11. This exchange included 175 military personnel and 7 civilians, most of whom had been held since 2022.
The majority of those freed were captured during the defense of Mariupol, along with members of the National Guard taken at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the early days of the invasion.
“163 of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022. This is a true success. It is hard to imagine what they endured,” stated Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
The group returning home comprised members from various branches of the military, including the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense, Airborne Assault Forces, and the State Border Guard Service, among others.
Yusov noted that the returning soldiers are in varying states of health, with over 60 reported injuries and complications arising from previous illnesses and inadequate medical care.
Included in the release were 25 officers, whom Russia had previously refused to exchange.
The ages of those released ranged from 22 to 63 years old.
Yusov mentioned that Ukraine had aimed to secure a larger number of returns during this exchange, but Russia declined to cooperate fully. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that future exchanges would continue.
“Unfortunately, the enemy rejected these humanitarian initiatives from Ukraine, which we were prepared for, along with many other proposals. However, work continues. We can cautiously say that this operation will be extended and that today was just the beginning of the Easter exchange,” he added.
For context, the previous exchange between Ukraine and Russia occurred on March 5-6, where 500 individuals were exchanged in a two-stage process, initially releasing 200 individuals followed by another 300.
Those who returned in March included military personnel from various units, such as the Ground Forces, Airborne Forces, and the Navy, as well as members of the National Guard and State Border Guard Service. The exchange encompassed soldiers, sergeants, and officers involved in battles across multiple regions, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as those who participated in the defense of Mariupol.
Ukraine has successfully returned 182 individuals from Russian captivity in a recent exchange, primarily consisting of military personnel. This operation marks a continuation of efforts to secure the release of captives amid ongoing conflict.