Ukraine brings back 193 defenders from Russian captivity: two soldiers celebrate birthdays today – photos, video
Ukraine has brought back 193 defenders from Russian captivity as part of the 73rd prisoner-of-war exchange.
Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Quote from Zelenskyy: "193 Ukrainian warriors are returning home as part of a prisoner exchange. They include servicemembers of the Armed Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service, the National Police, and the State Special Transport Service. They defended Ukraine on various fronts. Among them are those against whom Russia has initiated criminal proceedings, as well as the wounded."
Details: The Coordination Headquarters said this exchange is a continuation of the Orthodox Easter prisoner swap and the implementation of related agreements.
Video: Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
This exchange is notable because Ukraine has managed to bring back defenders born in the 2000s, as well as wounded service members. Most of those released had been unlawfully held in Chechnya, with some subjected to fabricated criminal charges in breach of the Geneva Conventions.
Among the released defenders are members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including a significant number of paratroopers. Personnel from the Navy, the Territorial Defence Forces, the National Guard of Ukraine, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service and the State Special Transport Service are also returning home. In addition to privates and sergeants, several officers have been freed.
The released service members defended the country on the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kursk fronts. The youngest defender is 24. He was captured on the Donetsk front in 2023. The oldest freed defender is 60. Two service members will celebrate their birthdays on home soil today.
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