Ukraine secures release of 4,306 prisoners of war, civilians since Russian invasion

Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), reported the information.

"The work to find and release prisoners of war doesn’t stop for a minute. Everyone involved understands how important and serious it is. We’re doing everything to carry out the task set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – to bring every Ukrainian prisoner of war back home. So far, over the three years of full-scale war, we’ve managed to return 4,306 of our defenders and civilians from Russian captivity," Maliuk said.

According to him, SBU investigators are also carrying out all necessary procedures with captured members of the Russian Armed Forces, including recent detainees who are citizens of the People’s Republic of China.

"Ukraine is ready to exchange these prisoners of war for its defenders," Maliuk added.

• On March 19, a prisoner swap with Russia took place, in which 175 Ukrainian servicemen were brought back. Another 22 defenders were returned through separate efforts outside of the official exchanges.