185 Ukrainian POWs return home in latest exchange with Russia
A new stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange took place on June 5 (photo: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
On Friday, June 5, Ukraine and Russia carried out the second stage of a large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. A total of 185 military personnel and one civilian were brought home, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Another 185 Ukrainian defenders are returning home today from Russian captivity. One civilian is also returning along with the defenders," the president said.
According to him, those released include personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Privates, sergeants, and officers.
They defended the country in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk fronts.
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official
Among them are those returning after years in Russian captivity, where they had been held since 2022.
Who was among those released
Returning home are service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (including personnel from the Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, airmobile, motorized infantry and mechanized brigades, Territorial Defense Forces, Special Operations Forces, and the Military Law Enforcement Service), as well as fighters from the National Guard of Ukraine (including Azov defenders) and the State Border Guard Service. Among the released service members were two officers, as well as privates and sergeants.
This exchange featured several unique and moving stories:
- Participant in the air bridge: Among those rescued is a defender who took part in the unique helicopter operation — the air bridge to the besieged Azovstal steel plant.
- Father and son return home: A father and son are returning home together. They defended Ukraine in the same brigade and were captured one day apart in 2022.
The youngest released defender is 26 years old (27 according to the Ombudsman), while the oldest is 62. In addition, this June will be especially meaningful for 15 of the released service members, as they will celebrate their birthdays with their families for the first time in many years.
All evacuated Ukrainians will now undergo mandatory medical examinations and receive urgent treatment.
Partners from the United States and the United Arab Emirates played a significant role in organizing the exchange and helping return Ukrainians to their homeland.
Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia
On May 15, 2026, the first stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange took place under agreements reached with United States mediation. At that time, 205 Ukrainian defenders were returned from Russian captivity.
Those brought home included members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including personnel from the Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Force, as well as fighters from the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service.
Most of those released had spent about four years in captivity and were captured during the defense of Mariupol. The length of time spent in captivity was one of the key criteria in forming the exchange lists.
More than 50 officers were among those released. A National Guard serviceman captured at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant also returned home.
Overall, Ukrainians who fought on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv fronts returned home.
According to the Ombudsman's Office, Ukraine has returned more than 9,000 of its citizens from Russian captivity. Among them were hundreds of civilians whom Russia had detained illegally.
In addition, Ukraine's military intelligence agency has reported that Kyiv is also working to secure the release of those who have been held in Russian captivity since 2014, including in Crimea and Donbas.
