Prisoner exchange: 200 Ukrainians return from Russian captivity
According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Telegram.
"Today, 200 Ukrainian families received the most-awaited message – their loved ones are coming home. And this is always good news for all of us, for the entire country: the return of our people to their homeland," Zelensky said.
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According to the president, among those returning are defenders of Mariupol, and of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, along with soldiers of the Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, border guards, and National Guard personnel.
"Every time our people come home, it proves that Ukraine is working to bring everyone back. No one is forgotten. We involve mediators," Zelensky said.
He thanked everyone who helps Ukraine in these efforts.
"I thank the United States for its support in making this exchange possible. I am grateful to all our warriors who are replenishing Ukraine's exchange fund on the front lines. The return of our people home is the result of the strength of Ukrainian defenders," Zelensky said.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Telegram that some of those freed had defended Mariupol and had spent nearly four years in captivity.
The release of the 200 Ukrainians took place in accordance with agreements reached in Geneva.
Those returning include service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – including representatives of the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, Air Assault Forces and the Air Force – as well as personnel of the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and the State Special Transport Service.
The freed soldiers had defended the country on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia fronts. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, officers were also released.
The former prisoners of war will undergo full medical examinations and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation, as well as all payments provided by the state.
The Coordination Headquarters expressed gratitude to the United States and President Donald Trump for their productive work in helping return Ukrainians from Russia.
The headquarters also thanked all agencies and organizations involved for their coordinated efforts to secure the release of Ukrainian citizens.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Telegram that 26 employees of the Interior Ministry system were among those released on March 5.
"Our people are home! As part of the first stage of the Geneva agreements, 200 defenders have returned to Ukraine. Among them are nine National Guard soldiers and 17 border guards. They defended the country in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions. Some of the service members had been held in captivity since 2022," Klymenko said.
He added that the soldiers will now undergo recovery and receive the necessary medical, social and psychological support.
The previous prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on February 5, when 157 Ukrainians returned home.
