Ukraine, Russia conduct another prisoner swap: severely injured soldiers freed from captivity

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported the information.

Today’s exchange is part of a broader swap involving servicemembers under the age of 25, as well as those who are severely wounded or seriously ill.

Who was brought home?

Returning to Ukraine were servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including troops from the Air Assault Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, the State Special Transport Service, the State Border Guard Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine.

“Among those released today are defenders of Mariupol who had been in captivity for over three years. All those freed are men, ranking from enlisted personnel to sergeants,” the Coordination Headquarters said.

They also noted that some of the Ukrainian soldiers freed today had previously been considered missing in action.

In total, the returning soldiers had fought in the Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk directions.

According to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the oldest soldier freed is 59 years old, and the youngest is 22.

Zelenskyy: “We’re working to bring everyone home”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the return of the Ukrainian defenders:

“Today, our army soldiers, National Guard troops, and border guards are home. All of them need medical treatment, and they will receive the necessary care. This is the second stage of returning severely wounded and seriously ill fighters. We continue working to bring everyone back from Russian captivity. Thank you to everyone who helps make these exchanges possible. So that every one of them—every man and woman—can return home, to Ukraine,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov emphasized that as part of the fourth phase of the exchange, defenders who had been wounded or became seriously ill while in captivity were returned.

“Behind each of these exchanges are the efforts of dozens of people—complex diplomacy, pressure, negotiations, the will of the state, and the faith of their loved ones. We will not stop. Until the last one returns home—the fight continues,” he said.

• On June 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the start of a prisoner of war exchange, which will take place in several stages. At that time, the first group of released soldiers, aged up to 25, returned home.