On March 6, Ukraine brought back 300 service members and two civilians from Russian captivity during the second stage of a large prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced the exchange.
Details
The released group includes soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fighters from the National Guard of Ukraine, and border guards from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. They include soldiers, sergeants, and officers who fought on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson fronts, as well as during the defense of Mariupol.
Most of the freed personnel spent more than a year in captivity, while some had remained imprisoned since 2022. The youngest released soldier is 26 years old, and the oldest is 60.
After returning home, authorities will send the defenders to medical centers for examinations, treatment, and rehabilitation. They will also receive the necessary documents and state payments.
This exchange marked the second and final stage of agreements reached during negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva. The United States and the United Arab Emirates mediated the process.
Context
The exchange took place in a 500-for-500 format over two days. On March 5, the sides released 200 prisoners each. On March 6, they exchanged another 300.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Ukraine has brought home more than 6,600 citizens from Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, around 7,000 Ukrainian service members remain in captivity. Ukrainian officials stress that efforts to bring back all prisoners continue.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Ukraine returned 157 citizens from Russian captivity during the first exchange of 2026, including 150 service members and seven civilians.
