As part of the exchange, 84 Ukrainians returned home, including those who had been held captive since 2014

As part of the exchange, 33 service members and 51 civilians were freed from russian captivity.

This time, it was possible to secure the release of Ukrainians who had been detained in the temporarily occupied territories prior to the full-scale invasion and unlawfully sentenced to lengthy prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years. One of those freed had been in captivity for 4,013 days – he was taken prisoner in Donetsk Oblast back in 2014.

Also returning to their homeland are Ukrainians who were captured and unlawfully sentenced by the occupiers between 2016 and 2021. Among those freed are three women from Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. One of them is a primary school teacher who was imprisoned in 2019.

“Today, we managed to bring back another group of our people from russian captivity. They will be provided with all the necessary support and assistance. The state is working – and will continue working – to ensure that every Ukrainian held captive in russia comes home,” said Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Among the civilian Ukrainians released today is a 27-year-old man who was unlawfully imprisoned by the occupiers in 2016, when he was only 18 years old.

In addition to civilians, defenders from the Mariupol garrison, service members of the Naval Forces, and the State Border Guard Service are also returning home. Ten officers were freed from captivity.

Two pairs of brothers, who had been held captive since March and April 2022, are also returning from russian captivity.

The youngest released is 26 years old, while the oldest is 74. He had spent the last seven years (since 2018) in a russian prison.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine expresses gratitude to all those working to bring Ukrainians home, in particular to the United Arab Emirates for their assistance in facilitating the exchange.