Finally home: 175 defenders and 7 civilians returned from captivity — exchange for Easter

Among them are defenders of Mariupol and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

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11 Apr 2026

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced one of the most anticipated exchanges: 175 Ukrainian servicemen and 7 civilians returned home, most of whom had been in Russian captivity since 2022. Among the released are defenders from various directions, including Mariupol, the Chornobyl NPP (ChAES), Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv and even the Kursk direction. Some servicemen are wounded; the youngest released is 22 years old, the oldest is 63 years old.

“Our people are returning home. 175 servicemen. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, National Guardsmen, border guards. Privates, sergeants and officers. And seven civilians.

Our warriors defended Ukraine on various fronts: in Mariupol, at the Chornobyl NPP (ChAES), on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv and Kursk directions. Some of them are wounded. Most were in captivity since 2022. And finally — home.

Thank you to every unit that replenishes our exchange pool and thus brings the return of our people closer. It is a matter of principle for us to bring everyone back from Russian captivity. Thank you to everyone in the world who helps us with this.”

The Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov clarified that among the released are 25 officers whom the Russian side had previously categorically refused to exchange. A significant portion of those freed are the heroic defenders of Mariupol, as well as National Guard servicemen who were captured during the occupation of the Chornobyl NPP (ChAES). International partners, in particular the USA and the UAE, took part in the exchange process.

“I rejoice that among the released soldiers are the majority who had been in captivity since 2022, including the heroic defenders of Mariupol. Also home are 25 officers, whose liberation was an extremely difficult task, but the entire Coordinating Staff team coped and once again achieved the result.

Thanks to partners from the USA and the UAE for assisting in carrying out the Easter exchange! We continue to work to bring all our people home! There will be more good news soon”

The Coordinating Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War emphasized that almost all the released — both military and civilian — had been in captivity since 2022. Among those returned are representatives of the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Assault Forces, Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP), Air Force, SBS, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.