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Ukraine brings back 150 POWs from Russian captivity in prisoner swap

by Martin Fornusek and Kateryna Hodunova February 5, 2025 3:58 PM 1 min read
Ukrainian service members after their release from Russian captivity. Photo published on Feb. 5, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)
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Ukraine brought back 150 Ukrainian service members from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Feb. 5, marking the latest prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow.

The released Ukrainian captives included members of the Navy, the Air Force, the Airborne Troops, the National Guard, the State Border Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, and a police officer, according to the president.

"They are all from different sectors of the front, but they have one thing in common: They fought for Ukraine," Zelensky said on Telegram.

Some POWs had been held captive for more than two years, according to Zelensky.

Among the released soldiers are those in serious condition. They have a long rehabilitation and recovery ahead, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported.

At the same time, Russia announced the return of 150 Russian prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukrainian captivity.

During the last exchange, which took place on Dec. 30, 2024, 189 people returned from Russian captivity.

In 2024, 1,358 Ukrainians were released, and since the beginning of the all-out war, 3,956 Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity, Zelensky said in his New Year's address.

Over 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed since start of war, Zelensky says
Ukraine has lost 45,100 soldiers on the battlefield since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with U.K. journalist Piers Morgan published Feb. 4.

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