Ukraine Welcomes Back 103 POWs in Latest Exchange

Ukraine has secured the return of 103 more prisoners of war from Russian captivity.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that the list includes Ukrainian soldiers of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, Special Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the State Transport Special Service, the State Emergency Service, and the Police.

All of those released this time are men: 82 soldiers and sergeants, and 21 officers.

Among those released this time are: 38 soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, 28 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (two of the Kraken Regiment, two of the International Legion, three of the Special Operations Forces, and one of the Territorial Defense Forces).

Eight border guards, four policemen, twenty-one sailors, three representatives of the State Transport Special Service, and one representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were released.

The released soldiers participated in the defense against Russian invaders in Mariupol (69 soldiers, including Azovstal defenders—31 soldiers), Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions. There are also two Chornobyl NPP guards among them.

“Today, 23 soldiers of the Azov Brigade returned home after more than two years of captivity,” stated military spokeswoman Olena Tolkacheva.

Most of them have been seriously injured or wounded, have serious illnesses, and need immediate medical attention.

Ukraine has been working for a long time to organize their return.

The United Arab Emirates helped with the exchange.

“Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its help in organizing another exchange,” the Coordination Headquarters said.

On August 13, Ukraine secured the return of 49 prisoners of war from Russian captivity, including defenders of Azovstal for the first time in a long period.