Ukraine brings home 25 severely ill, wounded POWs from Russia, including Mariupol defenders

This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the social network X, as well as by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

"Bringing our people home is what Ukraine is constantly working on, and we will not stop until we bring all of our people back. Today, 25 more of our people are returning home to Ukraine. These are our military and civilians. Among them are the defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, as well as of our Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Many of them have severe injuries and illnesses, and each will receive all the necessary medical care," Zelenskyy said.

The President of Ukraine thanked the team that searches for and organizes this vital work, as well as the United Arab Emirates for facilitating today’s event.

Bringing our people home is what Ukraine is constantly working on, and we will not stop until we bring all of our people back. 

Today, 25 more of our people are returning home to Ukraine. These are our military and civilians. Among them are the defenders of Mariupol and… pic.twitter.com/wDMeTUxYK0

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 15, 2025

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that today’s exchange is the result of Ukraine achieving a separate format for returning severely ill and wounded prisoners.

"They were brought back to the free land of Ukraine as part of mutual repatriation. The Coordination Headquarters, under the President of Ukraine's orders, continues working on the return of the severely wounded, seriously ill, and women. Active efforts also continue to locate and return civilians and all our prisoners of war," the statement said.

It was noted that all repatriated service members are soldiers, sailors, and sergeants. They defended the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk directions, as well as the city of Mariupol, including Azovstal.

Among those returned is also a civilian who was captured in Kyiv region and illegally detained by Russians.

"Returning home to receive proper treatment and rehabilitation are representatives of the National Guard, Armed Forces of Ukraine (including Territorial Defense), Naval Forces, and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. We also managed to retrieve wounded Ukrainian soldiers from Kursk region," the Coordination Headquarters added.

They also stated that the youngest released prisoner is 24 years old, and the oldest is 60.

"These people have endured much without proper medical care and faced inhumane conditions in enemy captivity. The wounded suffer from blindness, limb amputations, severe gunshot wounds, and the effects of mine-explosion injuries. Among the illnesses are tuberculosis, cancer, and gangrene, which starkly reflect the conditions in which our people were held. According to the Third Geneva Convention, it is the severely ill and wounded who must be returned first," the Coordination Headquarters emphasized.

• On December 30, Ukraine managed to return 189 service members from Russian captivity, including defenders of Mariupol and Snake Island.