Zelenskyy: Ukraine returns 200 citizens from Russian captivity today
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of 200 Ukrainians from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange and thanked the United States for its support in carrying out the swap.
"Today, 200 Ukrainian families received the most anticipated message: their relatives are returning home. And this is always good news for all of us, for the entire country – the return of our people to their native land. Among those returning are the defenders of Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, border guards and National Guardsmen," Zelenskyy wrote in Telegram on Thursday.
The head of state stressed that "this proves that Ukraine is working to bring back each and every one. We forget no one."
"We are engaging intermediaries. I am grateful to everyone who helps Ukraine. I thank the United States for its support in carrying out this exchange. I am grateful to all our soldiers on the front line who ensure the replenishment of Ukraine’s exchange pool. The return of our people home is the result of the strength of Ukraine’s defenders," Zelenskyy added.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that Thursday’s exchange was the first stage of a prisoner swap carried out under agreements reached at trilateral talks in Geneva, Switzerland.
"In addition to soldiers and sergeants, officers were also freed. Those released from captivity will undergo a full medical examination, receive assistance with physical and psychological rehabilitation, and all state-mandated payments… We express our gratitude to the United States of America and President Donald Trump for their productive work in returning Ukrainians from Russian territory. We also thank all relevant structures and organizations for their coordinated efforts aimed at freeing our citizens," the statement said.
The Coordination Headquarters announced that the next stage of the release of Ukrainian defenders would take place in the near future, without specifying a date or the number of prisoners to be returned.
Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov added that the freed prisoners face treatment, recovery and care ahead of them.
Budanov noted that this is the first stage of the exchange agreed upon during the Geneva talks. "We are grateful to US President Donald Trump and his administration for facilitating this exchange. I always stress that the release of Ukrainian prisoners is a priority for our negotiating team, and on the instruction of the President of Ukraine we continue working to bring everyone home," Budanov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that a prisoner exchange with Ukraine had taken place on a "200 for 200" basis.
According to Russian media, a "500 for 500" prisoner exchange with Ukraine is taking place on March 5-6 under the Geneva agreements, with a second "300 for 300" swap to follow on Friday. The United Arab Emirates and the United States are serving as intermediaries.
As reported, the last prisoner exchange took place on February 5 of this year, when 157 Ukrainians returned home.
On February 14, Zelenskyy said Russia is currently holding approximately 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war, while Ukraine holds over 4,000 Russian prisoners, and Ukraine is ready to conduct an all-for-all exchange if Russia is willing.
