Five Ukrainians who were believed to have been killed in Olenivka have returned from captivity. 270 in total

Today, October 23, 2026, 270 people returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity — service members from various units of the Defense Forces and nine civilians. Most of those released had been held captive since 2022.

Five Ukrainians who had been presumed dead in the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka in July 2022 also returned home. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically highlighted their return.

The released service members include:

• National Guard members, including Azov fighters;
• border guards;
• territorial defense members;
• service members of the Navy;
• members of the Ground Forces;
• service members of the Air Assault Forces;
• members of the State Special Transport Service.

Most of those who returned had defended Mariupol. The released service members had also fought on the following fronts:

• Donetsk;
• Luhansk;
• Kharkiv;
• Zaporizhzhia;
• Kherson;
• Kyiv;
• Mykolaiv;
• Chernihiv.

According to the president, many of the Ukrainians released had been unlawfully tried in Russia.

The president thanked everyone involved in organizing exchanges and helping bring Ukrainians home. He also recognized the role of Ukrainian service members who continue to fight for their country.

“We remember each and every one of them, and we continue searching for everyone,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

We wrote earlier:

• Ukraine brings home 10 service members from captivity who had been presumed missing
• “Well, hello, dear ones!”: Warriors return from captivity after 3 years in detention
• Some had already been “buried,” but they returned: missing service members released from captivity
• Ukraine brings home another 50 service members from Russian captivity
• Occupiers shell the prison colony in Olenivka where Ukrainian prisoners were held, then blame the Armed Forces of Ukraine