Ukraine Brings Home 160 Soldiers and Officers Held in Russian Captivity Since 2022

Ukraine has secured the release of 160 prisoners of war from Russian captivity as part of the 76th prisoner exchange since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced on June 26.

According to the statement, all of the released Ukrainian service members had been held in Russian captivity since 2022.

Those freed include personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Force, Navy, Medical Forces, and Support Forces. Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine were also among those returned.

The released defenders fought on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv fronts.

Among those freed are 115 defenders of Mariupol. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, the exchange also secured the return of 58 officers.

The youngest released prisoner is 26 years old, while the oldest is 66.

The Coordination Headquarters said all returnees will undergo medical examinations, receive necessary treatment, financial assistance, and documentation, before entering rehabilitation programs to support their recovery and reintegration following prolonged captivity.

According to the headquarters, a total of 9,606 military personnel and civilians have been returned from Russian captivity since the agency began its work.

Previously, on June 5, Ukraine has completed its 75th prisoner exchange with Russia, bringing home 186 Ukrainians from captivity.

Under the negotiated exchange, 185 Ukrainian service members were released from Russian captivity. The operation also secured the return of one civilian Ukrainian who had been held by Russia since 2022.

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