Ukrainian defenders released from captivity sing national anthem for first time in a long while – photos, videos

Among the Ukrainians brought back in the 75th prisoner-of-war exchange since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion are severely ill or seriously wounded defenders who are now receiving assistance. Negotiations on the next stages of the exchange are ongoing.

Source: Andrii Yusov, Deputy Head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; videos released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine; Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, on Facebook

Details: The current prisoner swap secured the return of 185 Ukrainian defenders and one civilian.

Most of them had been in captivity since 2022. Among those released are many defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal garrison, representatives of many components of the security and defence forces and from various fronts where Ukrainian defenders are holding back the Russians.

Quote from Yusov: "Unfortunately, among those brought back are both severely ill and seriously wounded people, including cases of cancer and tuberculosis. Everyone is now receiving urgent and necessary medical care. Negotiations are not stopping, they are continuing, and we expect further measures and subsequent exchanges in the near future."

More details: Brigadier General Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, said 33 Azov fighters have been brought back home as part of the current prisoner swap, only two of whom are fighters from the Azov Separate Special Purpose Detachment who defended Mariupol.

He said that more than 700 service members from the Azov Brigade are still in Russian captivity for the fifth year and are being included in exchange lists in only minimal numbers.

Prokopenko called for pressure on Russia to be increased over the exchange of Azov prisoners of war.

Various agencies have released footage showing the freed Ukrainians being welcomed back on home soil.

The border guards, in particular, released a video showing former prisoners of war singing Ukraine's national anthem for the first time in a long while.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!