Ukraine successfully returned 200 defenders from Russian captivity during a major prisoner exchange on Thursday, March 5. This operation marks the first successful implementation of agreements reached during recent negotiations in Geneva involving the United States and Russia. The group includes soldiers who fought in Mariupol, particularly at the Azovstal steel plant.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported the successful return of the personnel on his official channels. He emphasized the profound impact of this news on the entire nation.
“Today, 200 Ukrainian families received the most-awaited message: their loved ones are returning home. This is always good news for all of us, for the entire country — the return of our people to their native land,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
The released individuals serve in the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service. These defenders participated in heavy combat across the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions before their capture by Russian forces during the full-scale invasion.
Exchange details
The Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the Geneva talks played a decisive role in securing this specific group’s release. He specifically credited the current US administration for its diplomatic support.
“We are grateful to US President Donald Trump and his administration for facilitating the exchange. I always emphasize that the release of Ukrainian prisoners is a priority for our negotiating team. By the order of the President of Ukraine, we continue our work to bring everyone home,” Budanov noted.
Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets reported that many returnees suffer from extreme exhaustion and significant weight loss. Some soldiers had been held since 2022. Meanwhile, Russian officials confirmed they received 200 occupiers in return. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky announced that a larger “500 for 500” exchange is expected to continue through March 6.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that Ukraine conducted its first exchange of the year on February 5, returning 157 people. Approximately seven thousand Ukrainians remain in Russian custody, and official efforts to secure their release remain a top state priority.
