On the eve of the Easter holidays, Ukraine and the Russian Federation successfully conducted another major prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange. This vital humanitarian operation allowed 182 Ukrainians to finally return home to their families after enduring grueling conditions in Russian captivity. According to an official statement made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the group of liberated citizens includes 175 military personnel representing various branches of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, alongside seven civilians.
Announcing the deeply moving news on his official Telegram channel on Saturday, April 11, the Ukrainian leader emphasized the profound importance of this milestone. “Our people are returning home. 175 military personnel. Warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guardsmen, border guards. Privates, sergeants, and officers. And seven civilians,” President Zelenskyy wrote, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of those who were rescued.
The released defenders represent a broad cross-section of Ukraine’s courageous resistance against the ongoing Russian invasion. Their combat paths cover nearly all the major battlegrounds since the very start of the full-scale war. Among those brought back are the resilient defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant, as well as the National Guardsmen who were captured while guarding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the initial days of the invasion. Furthermore, the rescued group includes soldiers who fought relentlessly in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kyiv regions, along with those involved in complex combat operations in the Kursk direction.
Tragically, the absolute majority of these individuals have been languishing in Russian prisons and detention centers since 2022. Many returned with severe injuries and visible signs of maltreatment, highlighting the brutal reality of Russian captivity. Their return underscores the urgent need for comprehensive medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation, which will be provided by the state and volunteer organizations immediately upon their arrival.
President Zelenskyy extended his profound gratitude to the frontline units responsible for capturing Russian combatants, which directly replenishes the essential “exchange fund” and makes these humanitarian negotiations possible. “I thank every unit that replenishes our exchange fund and thereby brings the return of our people closer. Returning everyone from Russian captivity is a fundamental principle for us. I thank everyone in the world who is helping us achieve this,” the Head of State remarked, acknowledging the crucial role of both the military and international mediation.
This Easter exchange follows a series of successful repatriations that occurred earlier in the spring. As a reminder, a massive exchange operation took place on March 6, when Ukraine managed to secure the release of 302 individuals, comprising both military personnel and civilians. The youngest person freed in that exchange was just 26 years old, while the oldest was 60. A day prior, on March 5, another 200 Ukrainian defenders were brought back in the first phase of a coordinated two-day exchange effort. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly vowed not to stop its diplomatic and military efforts until every single captured citizen is safely brought back to Ukrainian soil.