Nikita Shenderovsky15:01, 23.10.26

In particular, five servicemen who were considered dead after the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka returned home.

Ukraine has held another exchange of prisoners of war with Russia after a pause of more than two months. 270 prisoners returned home. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram .

“National Guard members are returning home, including Azov soldiers, border guards, Teroboronivtsi soldiers, soldiers of the Naval Forces, Ground Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, State Special Transport Service, as well as nine civilians. Most of them have been in captivity since 2022,” the president wrote.

He added that most of those released were fighters who defended Ukraine in Mariupol. Defenders from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv regions also returned home.

“Many were illegally convicted in Russia. Among those returning are five people who were believed to have died during the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka in July 2022. We remember each and every one and continue to search for everyone. Thank you to everyone who works for the exchanges. And, of course, I am grateful to our soldiers who are at the front replenishing the exchange fund for Ukraine so that we can return our own,” the president added.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Telegram that 261 military personnel and 9 civilians were among the released. They also noted that this is the third stage of the combined exchange of prisoners, which began on August 19. Among the released, in particular, are 38 officers. There are also fighters who were taken prisoner in 2018 and 2020.

“All those released will undergo a medical examination, receive treatment, be provided with necessary items for the first time, receive appropriate payments, undergo rehabilitation and reintegration into society after prolonged isolation in Russian captivity,” the Coordination Headquarters added.

(C)UNIAN 2026