Over 100 Ukrainian Soldiers Returned from Russian Captivity, Including 23 Azov Defenders

On September 14, 2024, over 100 Ukrainian soldiers were released from Russian captivity. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Coordination Headquarters, the exchange involved 103 military personnel, with 82 being enlisted soldiers and sergeants, and 21 officers.

The released soldiers include members of various Ukrainian forces: 38 National Guardsmen, 28 soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)—including two from the “Kraken” special unit, two from the International Legion, three from Special Operations Forces, and one from Territorial Defense Forces—eight border guards, four police officers, 21 naval personnel, three members of the State Special Transport Service, and one from the State Emergency Service.

Among those returned were 23 fighters from the Azov brigade, as confirmed by the head and founder of the Azov Patronage Service.

The exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, with both Russia and Ukraine transferring 103 soldiers each. The Ukrainian personnel had been held captive in the Kursk region of Russia.

The released individuals have been identified as having sustained severe injuries and require immediate medical attention. Many were involved in the defense of key locations such as Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Chornobyl.

President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the UAE for their role in organizing this exchange, acknowledging the efforts involved in securing the return of these personnel.