Monday, July 20, 2026 10:00:32 AM

Ukrainian forces have captured 64 Russian soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia sector, significantly increasing their pool for future prisoner exchanges, reported the 225th Separate Assault Regiment on its Telegram channel.

According to the regiment, their fighters conducted operations to clear Ukrainian-held areas of enemy infiltration units in the regions of Ternuvatyi, Kosivtsovyi, Rozhdestvenka, Verkhnya Tersa, and Vozdvyzhevka. The result: 64 Russian troops taken prisoner.

Reports indicate the Russian forces were attempting to secretly move behind Ukrainian positions without engaging in direct combat. Their tasks included searching for drone crews, gathering reconnaissance, and planting Russian flags as props for propaganda videos claiming the capture of villages. Instead, they ended up in Ukrainian custody, adding to Ukraine’s exchange pool.

On June 26, Ukraine and Russia conducted the 76th prisoner exchange, with 160 Ukrainians returning home-all of them military personnel held since 2022.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has brought back more than 9,500 citizens from Russian captivity. Since the start of 2026 alone, 1,596 Ukrainians have returned home.

(C)UAWIRE 2026