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Ukraine Completes New Prisoner Swap, Brings Home Civilians and Defenders Held Since 2022
Ukraine and Russia had carried out another round of prisoner exchanges, returning a group of service members and civilians—most held since 2022—under the humanitarian accord reached in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on July 4 on his official Telegram channel.
Zelenskyy wrote, “Today our defenders who defended Ukraine in various regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kherson regions have come home,” underscoring the government’s goal “to return all our people from Russian captivity”.
According to both Ukrainian and Russian authorities, those released included wounded and critically ill service members as well as individuals under 25 years of age. The group comprised soldiers, sergeants and officers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard, Border Guard Service and State Special Transport Service, alongside uncharged civilians.
The youngest returnee was just 20 years old and the oldest 59. Many had been detained for over three years, notably defenders of Mariupol who were captured in 2022 and held throughout intense fighting early in the invasion.
Earlier, Ukraine and Russia carried out their fourth prisoner exchange in a single week, repatriating another group of the most vulnerable detainees—including the severely wounded, critically ill and under-25 servicemen from the Armed Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service and State Special Transport Service.
All returnees will undergo medical examinations, receive psychological support and state compensation.
