Ukrainian Defenders and Civilians Freed from Captivity

On Friday, July 4, another stage of the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place, in line with the agreements reached in Istanbul.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed this.

Many of those who returned home had been held in Russian captivity since 2022.

The Coordination Headquarters reported that among those freed were Ukrainian servicemen who had been illegally convicted, as well as civilians unlawfully deprived of their freedom. This group includes wounded and seriously ill defenders, as well as young individuals under the age of 25.

Those who return to their families are service members from the Armed Forces of Ukraine – including the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Assault Forces, and Special Operations Forces – along with personnel from the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Transport Special Service.

The youngest freed defender is only 20 years old, while the oldest is 59. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, several officers were also released.

Among those freed today are also defenders of Mariupol, who had been held in captivity since 2022.

The vast majority of those released had spent over three years in captivity.

Also, Ukrainians who defended the country on the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Kherson sectors return home.

The exact number of individuals released will be announced after all stages of the exchange are completed, in accordance with the Istanbul Agreements.

Immediately after their release from captivity, the defenders will undergo the necessary medical examinations, receive support for physical and psychological rehabilitation, and be provided with all the financial compensation due for the entire period of their captivity.

The previous group of Ukrainian servicemen – those under the age of 25 and severely wounded – was successfully returned from Russian captivity on June 26.