Ukraine has conducted its first prisoner exchange of the year, bringing home 157 citizens. The released group includes Mariupol defenders, civilians, and service members unlawfully sentenced to long prison terms by Russia.
As reported by "Hvylya", the exchange was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky and NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov.
The operation to return the Ukrainians was long and tense. According to Rustem Umerov, 139 of those released had been in Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Special attention was paid to returning those subjected to sham trials by the occupiers.
"Among those returning home are 19 unlawfully convicted defenders, 15 of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment. Also included are defenders of Mariupol. These people went through very severe ordeals but stood firm," the NSDC Secretary noted.
President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the significance of the event, noting that the exchange took place after a long pause. Returning home are warriors from the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service — including soldiers, sergeants, and officers.
"Today's exchange took place after a long pause, and it is very important that we managed to make it happen. I thank everyone working on the exchanges, and everyone at the front who replenishes the exchange fund for Ukraine. Without the determination of our warriors, such exchanges would be impossible," the Head of State declared.
The operation's success was made possible through the mediation of international partners. The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to the United States and the United Arab Emirates for their assistance in the negotiations.
Work to release the remaining prisoners continues.
"We fight for our own. And we return our own. We keep working," Umerov summarized.
Earlier, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reported that the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia had yielded its first humanitarian results in five months. The delegations agreed on the exchange of more than 300 detainees.