Ukraine has repatriated 205 defenders from Russian captivity as part of the ‘1,000 for 1,000’ prisoner exchange
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has announced the completion of the first phase of the ‘1,000 for 1,000’ prisoner exchange, in accordance with the agreements reached through the mediation of the United States of America.
As part of the exchange, 205 Ukrainian defenders were returned from Russian captivity.
Those returning home included servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, specifically representatives of the Navy, the Army, the Airborne Assault Forces, the Territorial Defence Forces, and the Air Force, as well as fighters from the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Who has returned home
Almost all of the released servicemen had been held captive for four years.
Most of them were taken prisoner during the defence of Mariupol and Azovstal.
Among those released is a serviceman of the Ukrainian National Guard who was taken prisoner at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
More than fifty officers have also been brought home.
According to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, 95% of those released were taken prisoner in 2022. This amounts to 193 defenders out of 205.
Among those returned are servicemen from the ‘Azov’ unit.
The youngest released defender is 21 years old, the oldest is 62.
Two of the released soldiers celebrated their birthdays on the day of the exchange. They turned 40 and 36.
A further 21 defenders have birthdays in May.
Areas of service and the condition of those released
Soldiers who fought in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kyiv sectors have returned to Ukraine.
Among those discharged are members of airborne assault, motorised infantry, mechanised units and the marines.
Many soldiers have returned with serious injuries, deteriorated health and severe psychological trauma.
Some of the defenders were evacuated from Azovstal whilst still wounded.
All those released were confirmed to have been in captivity by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Further assistance and next steps
Upon their return, the freed defenders will be taken to medical centres for examinations, treatment and rehabilitation.
They will also receive the necessary assistance, documents and appropriate financial payments.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked everyone working to secure the return of Ukrainians from captivity, as well as the international partners who facilitated the exchange.
The Coordination Headquarters stated that preparations are underway for the next stages of the ‘1,000 for 1,000’ exchange, as well as work on implementing other agreements regarding the return of Ukrainians.
