Ukraine has brought home 185 military personnel and one civilian from Russian captivity in the latest prisoner exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on June 5.
According to the president, the released Ukrainians include members of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. The group consists of enlisted personnel, sergeants, and officers who fought in some of the war’s most intense battles, including the defense of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, as well as operations in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk directions.
“Another 185 Ukrainian defenders are returning home from Russian captivity today. Together with the defenders, one civilian is also returning,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that some of those released had been held by Russia since 2022.
The exchange was coordinated by Ukraine’s prisoner-of-war coordination headquarters on the president’s instructions.
Kyrylo Budanov, a key figure in prisoner exchange efforts, said the operation was made possible with the support of international partners.
“A significant role in securing the release of these Ukrainians, as in previous exchanges, was played by our partners from the United States and the United Arab Emirates. We are grateful for their assistance,” Budanov said.
According to Budanov, the released prisoners include infantry soldiers, marines, airborne troops, territorial defense fighters, special operations personnel, National Guard members, and border guards who served across different sectors of the front line. He noted that the majority had been held in captivity since 2022, including a number of defenders of Mariupol.
“We will do everything necessary for their treatment, recovery, and return to normal life,” Budanov said.
The latest exchange is part of ongoing efforts by Ukraine to secure the release of military personnel and civilians held by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.
