Ukraine brings back another 300 troops and two civilians from Russian captivity in Geneva prisoner swap – photos
Another 300 Ukrainian defenders and two Ukrainian civilians have been brought back from Russian captivity.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Quote from Zelenskyy: "Another 300 Ukrainian defenders are returning home from Russian captivity. Two Ukrainian civilians were also successfully returned today.
Among them are servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and our State Border Guard Service. Privates, sergeants, and officers. They defended Ukraine in various sectors – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and in Mariupol. Most of them had been in captivity for more than a year, some since 2022."
Details: The second and final stage of the prisoner exchange under the Geneva agreements took place on Friday 6 March.
Those returning include personnel from the Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, Navy, Territorial Defence Forces, Air Force, Unmanned Systems Forces as well as fighters from the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service and the State Special Transport Service.
Those freed include officers as well as soldiers and sergeants. The youngest is 26 and the oldest is 60.
The returning Ukrainians fought on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts and took part in the defence of Mariupol.
The released defenders will be taken to medical centres for all necessary examinations, further treatment and medical rehabilitation. They will receive the support they need, be issued documents and paid all state benefits due to them.
Background:
- On 5 March, Ukraine brought back 200 defenders from Russian captivity in the first stage of a prisoner exchange agreed upon in Geneva.
- Ukrainian official bodies have released footage of the return of 200 POWs who had been held for years in Russian captivity.
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