“An unwavering priority”: 186 Ukrainians return home in major prisoner swap with Russia

Ukraine has brought home 186 people from Russian captivity in its 75th prisoner exchange, officials said on 5 June. The deal brings home both long-held prisoners of war and a civilian detained since 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the exchange reflects a continuing national effort to bring all captives home, stating: “The return of our people is an unwavering priority for Ukraine. Every day we work to free every Ukrainian man and woman from captivity.” 

The exchange was facilitated with the involvement of the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

185 service members and one civilian returned in major prisoner exchange

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the exchange included 185 Ukrainian military personnel and one civilian who had been held by Russia since 2022.

The civilian is among those detained during the early phase of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The youngest of those released is 26 years old, while the oldest is 62. 

Many held since 2022, including defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal

More than half of those released were captured in 2022, including Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol and fighters from the Azovstal battles. 

Among those freed is a participant in helicopter missions that supported Ukrainian forces during the siege of Azovstal, one of the most intense battles of the war.

Captives taken across multiple fronts and now entering recovery process

The prisoners were captured across several front-line directions, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and the Kursk area. 

The released service members come from across Ukraine’s Armed Forces, including the Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Special Operations Forces, Military Law Enforcement Service, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service.

Two officers are among the group. 

All freed Ukrainians will undergo medical checks, receive treatment and rehabilitation, and begin reintegration support after prolonged captivity.