Ukraine and Russia hold new POWs exchange: Details
Photo: Ukraine exchanged prisoners with Russia (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Ukraine and Russia carried out a new prisoner exchange on Thursday, June 19. Most of the defenders who were returned had been held captive since 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
"Our people are returning home from Russian captivity. These are warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Most of them had been held captive since 2022," the President says.
The defenders who fought in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions have returned home. These are representatives of the Navy, Airborne Assault Forces, the Territorial Defense Forces, as well as the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard of Ukraine.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, a group of seriously ill defenders was released from Russian captivity. The soldiers are wounded and have significant health problems.
"Every defender released today has severe medical diagnoses and illnesses as a result of injuries and captivity. Many have significant weight loss, dystrophy, ulcers, vision problems, musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and digestive problems," the Coordination Center said.
Most of the released soldiers had been in captivity for over 3 years. Many of them were captured during the defense of Mariupol. All of the soldiers released today are privates and non-commissioned officers.
Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets noted that the oldest released is 63 years old.
Among those released is a Ukrainian defender whose birthday is today. He turned 45 years old.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko also said that non-commissioned officers and privates - border guards and national guardsmen - who held the defense in four directions - had returned home. Most of them were captured in 2022. One was captured in 2024. They are waiting for rehabilitation, treatment, and recovery.
Prisoner exchanges
During the second round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement on a large prisoner exchange. The parties agreed to return wounded and seriously ill soldiers, as well as all prisoners aged 18 to 25.
The first stages of the exchange have already taken place on June 9, 10, 12, and 14. During the last exchange, soldiers who had been held captive since 2022 were released, including the defenders of Mariupol.
Separately, the bodies of the deceased were exchanged under the “6000 for 6000” scheme. It took place on June 11, 13, and 14. Over 3,600 bodies have already been returned to Ukraine.
Russia spread rumors that there were almost no Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. However, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine denied this.
