Ukraine returns 205 defenders home in first 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner swap

“205 Ukrainians are home. Today, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service are returning from Russian captivity. This is the first stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange,” Zelenskyy said.

Those released include privates, sergeants, and officers. Most of them had been held in Russian captivity since 2022.

They defended Ukraine in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv directions, and at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

“Thank you to everyone working to bring our people home, especially our soldiers who replenish the exchange fund for Ukraine, and our entire team. Thank you to all partners helping free Ukrainians from captivity. We will continue fighting for every man and woman who remains imprisoned,” the president added.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that nearly all of the servicemen released today had spent four years in captivity. Most of them were captured during the defense of Mariupol.

The length of time spent in captivity is reportedly the key principle in forming the lists for the 1000 for 1000 exchanges.

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

Photos from the prisoner exchange (t.me/Koord_shtab)

In addition to soldiers and sergeants, more than 50 officers were also returned home.

Among those released was a National Guard serviceman captured at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

The youngest released defender is 21 years old, while the oldest is 62.

Prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia

More than a thousand Ukrainians — both military personnel and civilians — have remained in Russian captivity since 2022.

According to a representative of the Coordination Headquarters, their physical and emotional resources are exhausted, making their return a top priority.

Ukraine has already brought home more than 9,000 of its citizens from Russian captivity, including hundreds of civilians illegally detained by Russia.

Ahead of May 9, a new large-scale “1,000 for 1,000” prisoner exchange was announced, but it had not taken place until now.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Ukraine had already submitted the exchange lists and that the delay was entirely on Russia’s side.

At the same time, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine was allegedly “not ready” for the prisoner exchange.