{"id":588242,"date":"2026-05-15T12:49:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T09:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/05\/588242\/almost-four-years-in-russian-captivity-ukraine-returned-205-defenders\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T12:49:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T09:49:29","slug":"almost-four-years-in-russian-captivity-ukraine-returned-205-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/05\/588242\/almost-four-years-in-russian-captivity-ukraine-returned-205-defenders\/","title":{"rendered":"Almost four years in Russian captivity: Ukraine returned 205 defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

15 May <\/strong>2026, Ukraine<\/strong> received back 205 Ukrainians<\/strong> who had been held in Russian captivity. This was reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/strong>, noting that this is the first stage of an exchange in the format 1000 for 1000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Among the released – soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine<\/strong>, the National Guard of Ukraine<\/strong> and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine<\/strong>. Privates, sergeants and officers returned home.<\/p>\n

President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/strong> emphasized that most of the released had been in Russian captivity since 2022<\/strong>. These are defenders who defended Ukraine<\/strong> in Mariupol<\/strong> and at “Azovstal”<\/strong>, and who also fought on the Donetsk<\/strong>, Luhansk<\/strong>, Kharkiv<\/strong>, Kherson<\/strong>, Zaporizhzhia<\/strong>, Sumy<\/strong>, Kyiv directions<\/strong> and at the Chernobyl NPP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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“Thank you to everyone who works to bring our people home, first of all to our soldiers who replenish the exchange fund for Ukraine, and to our team. Thank you to all the partners who help free Ukrainians from captivity. We will continue to fight for every man and woman who still remains in captivity”, – thanked Volodymyr Zelensky<\/strong> everyone who worked on returning Ukrainians from Russian captivity, separately highlighting the soldiers who replenish the exchange fund, the Ukrainian team and international partners.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov<\/strong> reported that most of the soldiers released on 15 May<\/strong> had been held in captivity for four years<\/strong>. According to him, among them are defenders of Mariupol<\/strong>, soldiers and officers of the security and defense forces of Ukraine<\/strong>, who defended the country on all front-line directions. Kyrylo Budanov<\/strong> also thanked partners from the United States of America<\/strong> and the United Arab Emirates<\/strong> for their important role in carrying out this exchange.<\/p>\n

According to the Coordination Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War<\/strong>, servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine<\/strong> returned home, including representatives of:<\/p>\n

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  • Naval Forces<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
  • Ground Forces<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
  • Air Assault Forces<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
  • Territorial Defense Forces<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
  • Air Force<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Also, the following fighters were returned from captivity:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • National Guard of Ukraine<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
    • State Border Guard Service of Ukraine<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      In addition to soldiers and sergeants, more than fifty officers<\/strong> returned home. Among the released is a National Guard member who was captured at the Chernobyl NPP<\/strong>. According to the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets<\/strong>, the youngest released defender turned 21 years old<\/strong>, the oldest – 62 years old<\/strong>.<\/p>\n