Ukraine has brought home 193 service members from Russian captivity in its 73rd prisoner exchange since the start of the full-scale war, officials said.
Ukraine and Russia have conducted regular prisoner swaps throughout the war, often through complex negotiations involving intermediaries. Ukrainian authorities say efforts to locate and return all captured citizens remain ongoing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the swap, saying those freed include personnel from the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, National Police, and State Special Transport Service. They had been captured while defending Ukraine across multiple front-line sectors.
“It is important that exchanges are taking place and that our people are returning home,” Zelenskyy said, thanking those involved and stressing that efforts continue daily to bring back all Ukrainians held by Russia.
Easter-period agreements cover wounded and younger troops
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the exchange follows earlier agreements reached around Easter and includes wounded troops as well as younger service members.
Many of those released had been held in Chechnya, Ukrainian officials said. Some were also subjected to what Ukraine described as fabricated criminal cases, which it says violate the Geneva Conventions governing the treatment of prisoners of war.
Returnees span ages 24 to 60 and multiple branches of service
The freed personnel served across key battlefronts, including in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kursk directions. Those released include soldiers and sergeants, as well as several officers.
The youngest is 24 years old, while the oldest is 60. Two of the returned troops are marking their birthdays on Ukrainian soil after their release.
Medical screening, rehabilitation, and reintegration await
Officials said all returnees will undergo medical screening and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation, along with financial compensation mandated by the state. Programs are also in place to support their reintegration after prolonged captivity.
The Coordination Headquarters thanked the United States and the United Arab Emirates for assisting in organizing the exchange.
