Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful return of 300 military personnel from Russian captivity, marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to secure the release of detained Ukrainians. In addition to the soldiers, two civilians are also returning home.
Zelensky detailed that the released individuals include members of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and border service, who were engaged in various combat operations across key regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as in Mariupol. Many of these soldiers had been held for over a year, with some captured as far back as 2022.
This release follows a previous exchange on March 5, where 200 Ukrainian soldiers were returned, marking the first phase of an agreement reached during negotiations in Geneva. Today’s operation was anticipated to bring home another 300 personnel.
The last prisoner exchange occurred on February 5, resulting in the return of 150 military members and seven civilians. This was the first exchange of 2026.
According to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, as of March 6, a total of 6,922 Ukrainians have been successfully returned from Russian captivity. In February, President Zelensky indicated that approximately 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners were still being held in Russia.
Ukraine has successfully negotiated the release of 300 soldiers and two civilians from Russian captivity, continuing its efforts to bring home detained individuals. This release is part of a broader initiative that has seen thousands of Ukrainians returned since the conflict began.