Ukraine and Russia held another exchange of prisoners of war: 185 soldiers and one civilian returned home
Ukraine and Russia have held another exchange of prisoners of war, with 185 Ukrainian servicemen and one civilian returning home. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 5.
Among those released are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. They defended Ukraine in Mariupol, in particular at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk directions.
Some of those returned had been in captivity since 2022. Among those released is also a participant in the helicopter operation to break through to the surrounded Azovstal.
The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, reported that a father and son who served in the same brigade and were captured one day apart in 2022 are returning home.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the youngest of those released is 26 years old, the oldest is 62. In addition to privates and sergeants, two officers were returned from captivity.
In early May, Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, agreed on a three-day ceasefire and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. On May 15, 205 Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity, but after that there were no new exchanges for a long time.
Ukraine continues to work on the return of all military and civilians who remain in captivity.
