Russia's top prisoner swap request: Ukrainian intel responds

"Who do they want to see first? Well, there are various lists. We can mention that when the Wagner group was actively operating, they have indeed been working hard on their return. Also, certain representatives from specific regions and services are very eager to get their people back," Yusov said.

The HUR representative added that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to return over 5,000 citizens from Russian captivity, with more than 500 individuals returned outside of prisoner exchanges. In total, there have been 63 prisoner exchange operations.

"I can say that preparations for the next operations to return our citizens are already underway," said the military representative.

Prisoner exchange on the eve of Easter

On Saturday, April 19, Ukraine and Russia conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange. A total of 277 Ukrainian defenders returned home.

Among the released individuals were soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards. They had been defending Mariupol and other areas in Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions. One of the released was a servicewoman who had been in captivity since May 2022.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, some of the returning military personnel are seriously ill or severely wounded.

Earlier, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War explained why Russia is blocking the exchange of Azov fighters.