1,000-for-1,000 POW swap: Soldiers from 46 units, previously not included in exchanges, freed
Photo: Warriors from 46 units, from which no one had previously been returned, were freed from Russian captivity (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
As part of the 1000 for 1000 prisoner exchange, Ukraine succeeded in returning military personnel from 46 units from Russia, from which the Russians had previously not returned anyone, according to the Telegram channel of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
As a result of the largest 1000 for 1000 prisoner exchange, Ukraine managed to bring back servicemen from 46 units that had never previously appeared on exchange lists. "The return of fighters from these units had long been blocked by the Russian side for various reasons," the statement said.
It is noted that every third freed Ukrainian serviceman had been in captivity for more than three years — 311 defenders had been held since 2022. Another 122 soldiers were captured in 2023, and 150 defenders had been in Russian captivity since 2024.
Among those released in the major exchange were:
– 497 from the Ground Forces,
– 97 sailors from the Navy,
– 95 from the Territorial Defense Forces,
– 72 paratroopers,
– 21 from the Unmanned Systems Forces,
– 2 from the Air Force,
– 2 from the Support Forces,
– 56 border guards,
– 31 members of the National Guard,
– 1 representative of the State Special Transport Service.
Among those who returned home were 175 defenders of the Mariupol garrison, including 81 who had been captured at Azovstal.
All the freed servicemen are soldiers and sergeants who had been defending the hottest areas of the front.
1000 for 1000 prisoner exchange
On May 16, during negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye, an agreement was reached on a large-scale prisoner exchange in the 1000 for 1000 format.
Due to its large scale, the procedure was carried out in stages over three days.
The first stage of the exchange took place on Friday, May 23, and involved the release of 390 individuals: 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. On the first day, service members of the Navy, Air Assault Forces, National Guard, Territorial Defense Forces, and Border Guard Service were freed.
On the second day, May 24, Ukraine brought back 307 defenders, including 27 soldiers from Mariupol and members of other military units who were released for the first time.
On Sunday, May 25, another 303 Ukrainians returned from captivity, including 70 defenders of Mariupol.
