Stand behind Ukrainian independent journalism when it’s needed most. Help us reach 20,000 members.

Skip to content
Edit post

Ukraine returns 95 prisoners of war from Russian captivity

by The Kyiv Independent news desk June 11, 2023 7:52 PM 2 min read
95 Ukrainian prisoners of war return home from Russian captivity on June 11, 2023. (Andrii Yermak/
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak reported on June 11 that 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war had returned home from Russian captivity as part of another prisoner exchange.

According to Yermak, among the POWs are servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, as well as border guards. Many of them were wounded in captivity.

“Prisoners from Mariupol, Chornobyl, Zmiiny  (Snake) Island, from Bakhmut, as well as Azovstal defenders are going back to their families,” Yermak said.

The POWs include 93 rank-and-file soldiers and sergeants, as well as two officers.

The last exchange of prisoners took place on May 25, when 106 defenders were returned to Ukraine.

“All our people will be returned home. Working on it further,” said Yermak.

As of May 16, the country has managed to return 500 Ukrainian service members, a fifth of the total number of POWs currently held in Russian captivity, according to Nataliia Zarytska, head of the Council of Wives and Mothers of Ukraine's Defenders, a non-government organization.

"Despite all efforts, in 12 months only 20% of the defenders who were at risk of death until they were ordered by the command to lay down their arms and save their lives were returned,” Zarytska said.

What it’s like to know your loved ones are in Russian captivity
On the evening of Feb. 24, Nataliia Sivak received a terrifying message from her younger brother, Ukrainian soldier Yakiv Nehrii. “Tell everyone I love them very much,” the message read. “We are under heavy attack.” It was the last time she heard from him. When Russia launched its full-scale war

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?

Can we reach 20,000 members?

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.