Ukraine returns severely wounded defenders in new prisoner swap with Russia

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this.

“Today, the ninth stage of the exchange agreed upon in Istanbul took place. Seriously ill and severely wounded defenders are returning home,” the head of state said.

According to him, more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been returned through all stages of the recent Istanbul agreements.

The soldiers returning defended Ukraine on various fronts. A significant number were held captive for over three years.

“It is important that the exchanges continue and our people are coming home. I thank everyone who continues this crucial work. Bringing all our people back is a priority for the state. We will continue all efforts to ensure that all our people return from captivity,” the president emphasized.

What is known about released defenders?

According to Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, among those released today are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including units of the Air Assault Forces, Navy, Territorial Defense Forces, as well as fighters from the State Border Guard Service, National Guard, and National Police of Ukraine.

“In addition to enlisted soldiers and sergeants, officers were also freed. Some of the defenders released today were captured during the defense of Mariupol and spent over three years in captivity,” the Coordination Headquarters added.

Notably, the last defender of Zmiinyi Island, a serviceman of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, is also returning from captivity.

The Coordination Headquarters also reported that the youngest released defender is 27 years old, and the oldest is 66.

“In total, Ukrainians who fought on the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv fronts have returned to their homeland. The freed defenders will undergo necessary medical examinations, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation assistance, and be granted all due payments for the entire time spent in captivity,” the Coordination Headquarters noted.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, shared a video of the Ukrainian defenders’ return.