Key takeaways:
- Ukrainian POWs and civilians, held by Russia since 2022, are now back home.
- Among the released are service members from the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, State Transport Special Service, and unlawfully detained civilians.
- Prisoner exchanges will continue — Ukraine’s goal is to free every citizen.
Our heroes are home!
Ukraine has carried out another successful prisoner exchange, securing the return of military personnel and civilians who had been held in Russian captivity — some for more than two years.
The released Ukrainians had defended the country in some of the fiercest frontlines of the war — including Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
“Exchanges must continue. Ukraine’s goal is to bring every one of our people back from Russian captivity. I thank everyone involved in making this happen,”
— President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Those brought home include soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard, Border Guard Service, the State Transport Special Service, and civilians illegally detained by the Russian Federation.
Why it matters:
- Every person returned is a testament to Ukraine’s strength, resilience, and humanity.
- These exchanges reflect the coordinated efforts of Ukraine’s diplomats, intelligence services, and international partners.
- Ukraine defends not only its soldiers but also its civilians — each life matters.
Ukraine leaves no one behind
In a world where human life is often devalued, Ukraine proves that every citizen is worth fighting for.
These exchanges will go on until the very last Ukrainian returns home.
