Ukraine has carried out another stage of the large-scale prisoner exchange in accordance with the Istanbul agreements. Defenders who have returned to their homeland are those under the age of 25, as well as wounded and seriously ill soldiers who had spent years in Russian captivity, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports.
Russia holds an estimated 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers in captivity. Additionally, around 60,000 Ukrainians are considered missing, many
Ukraine has carried out another stage of the large-scale prisoner exchange in accordance with the Istanbul agreements. Defenders who have returned to their homeland are those under the age of 25, as well as wounded and seriously ill soldiers who had spent years in Russian captivity, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports.
Russia holds an estimated 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers in captivity. Additionally, around 60,000 Ukrainians are considered missing, many of whom may also be detained in Russian prisons.
Among those freed are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including personnel from the Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service.
“The youngest defender is 24 years old. He was captured during the defense of Mariupol in April 2022, at the age of 21,” say Ukrainian authorities.
Many of those returned had been taken prisoner during the fierce battles for Mariupol. One of the freed is a National Guardsman who was guarding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
“The oldest defender returned to Ukraine is 62 years old,” the Coordination HQ writes.
Some of the soldiers are officers. They defended Ukraine on the hottest frontlines: Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Kyiv, and Sumy directions.
“The defenders released from captivity will undergo the necessary medical examination, receive support for physical and psychological rehabilitation, as well as all due payments for the entire period of their imprisonment,” reveals the agency.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War is already preparing the next exchange.
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Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange on 19 June, focusing on seriously ill and wounded captives, some of which were held in Russian captivity for over three years.
This exchange follows an agreement reached during negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June, when Ukraine and Russia agreed to prioritize exchanging all seriously wounded and ill prisoners of war, plus all military personnel aged 18 to 25, rather than focusing on numerical parity. The talks, however, failed to produce
Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange on 19 June, focusing on seriously ill and wounded captives, some of which were held in Russian captivity for over three years.
This exchange follows an agreement reached during negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June, when Ukraine and Russia agreed to prioritize exchanging all seriously wounded and ill prisoners of war, plus all military personnel aged 18 to 25, rather than focusing on numerical parity. The talks, however, failed to produce any ceasefire agreement over the deep divide between Kyiv’s and Moscow’s stances on the war.
Ukrainian POWs are also systematically tortured in Russian captivity and denied medical care. More than 95% of released Ukrainian POWs report experiencing torture, including physical beatings with objects like rebar and bricks, electrocution, sexual violence, and psychological abuse.
The exchange returned Ukrainian defenders from multiple military branches to their homeland, including personnel from the Armed Forces, Naval Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, and State Border Service. Officials did not disclose the exact number of prisoners released.
“Every Defender released today has serious medical diagnoses and illnesses as a result of injuries and being in captivity,” the coordination staff reported. “Many have significant weight loss, dystrophy, ulcers, vision problems, musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases and digestive problems.”
Seriously ill and wounded Ukrainian defenders return home on 19 June after years in Russian captivity. Photos: Photo: @Koord_shtab/Telegram
The oldest released prisoner was 63 years old, while one defender celebrated his 45th birthday upon returning home, according to according to Ukraine’s human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.
Ukrainian defender who returned from Russian captivity on 19 June, on the day of his 45th birthday. Photo: @dmytro_lubinetzs/Telegram
Since the Istanbul talks on 2 June, Ukraine has conducted multiple exchanges: 9 June saw the return of prisoners under 25 years old, 10 June brought back seriously wounded and ill personnel, 12 June returned another group of seriously wounded and ill defenders, and 14 June marked the fourth exchange within a week, including seriously ill, wounded, and young prisoners.
Seriously ill and wounded Ukrainian defenders return home after years in Russian captivity in a new prisoner exchange on 19 June that resulted from 2 June Istanbul peace talks. Photos: Photo: @dmytro_lubinetzs and @Koord_shtab / Telegram
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