Ukraine and Russia complete third phase of 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange
A prisoner exchange has taken place (photo: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Ukraine and Russia have completed the third stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. As part of the exchange, 160 Ukrainians were returned from Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Results of the 76th prisoner exchange
"We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022," the president said.
According to him, those released include service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the National Guard, and border guards.
They are fighters who defended Mariupol, Azovstal, and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy directions.
"We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians," the president added.
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
Prisoner exchange (photo: Zelenskyy/Telegram)
The Coordination Headquarters added that the released service members had been held in captivity since 2022.
"Among those released are 115 defenders of Mariupol. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, 58 officers were also brought home. The youngest released Defender is 26 years old. The oldest is 66," the statement said.
All of the defenders will receive medical care, treatment, financial payments, documentation, and rehabilitation.
Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia: What is known
The previous, second exchange under the 1,000-for-1,000 format took place on June 5. At that time, 185 service members and one civilian were released from Russian captivity.
Before that, an exchange took place on May 15. More than 200 Ukrainians returned home at that time. Most of them had been held in captivity since 2022.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy proposed an all-for-all prisoner exchange to Putin. He also stressed that clear steps are needed to bring home all children and adults who were illegally taken to Russia.
Earlier today, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, announced that another prisoner exchange would take place in the coming days.
