The recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in the return of 185 Ukrainian defenders, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This exchange highlights ongoing efforts to secure the release of military personnel held captive since the onset of the conflict.
Among those released are members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. The group includes privates, sergeants, and officers who have participated in combat across various fronts.
The returned defenders include individuals who fought in Mariupol and at the Azovstal steel plant, as well as military personnel who undertook operations in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk regions. Some of these individuals had been in Russian captivity since 2022.
President Zelensky expressed gratitude to the team responsible for organizing the exchanges, as well as to international partners and Ukrainian military personnel whose successful actions on the battlefield have contributed to the exchange fund.
“The return of our people is an unwavering priority for Ukraine. We work daily to free every Ukrainian from captivity,” stated the President.
Previous exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have occurred, including a significant one on May 15, when 205 defenders were returned to Ukraine. This exchange marked the initial phase of a larger agreement involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners, facilitated by the United States.
Denis Prokopenko, commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine’s Azov unit, noted that the May 15 exchange included 20 fighters from his unit, with 19 of them being defenders from Mariupol. On May 10, President Zelensky indicated that preparations for a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange were underway, with expectations for American involvement in ensuring the agreements are upheld.
The Ukrainian Coordinating Headquarters reported that a list of 1,000 prisoners was submitted to the Russian side, compiled based on the duration of captivity of the Ukrainian defenders.
The latest prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia has successfully returned 185 Ukrainian defenders. This event underscores the ongoing efforts to secure the release of military personnel held captive since the conflict began.