Fourth exchange in a week: Ukrainian soldiers who had been held captive since 2022 have returned home
On Saturday, June 14, the fourth prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place within one week. This stage was a continuation of the agreements reached during the negotiations in Istanbul.
This time, it was possible to return defenders who had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. Among those released were servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service. Some of them have serious injuries, amputations, lost their sight, suffer from hepatitis or tuberculosis, and some cannot move independently. Most were hospitalized immediately after returning.
A significant number of the released were captured during the battles for Mariupol. Among them were both young fighters under 25 years old and officers. All of them participated in combat operations in key directions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and even Kursk.
In recent days, the exchanges have intensified. From June 9 to 14, four stages of returning prisoners and bodies of the deceased were carried out. In total, over 3,600 defenders’ bodies have been returned. In particular, during the first stage — 1,212, the second — 1,200, and on June 14 — another 1,200 bodies of the deceased.
All exchange operations are complex and conducted under extremely tense conditions. According to representatives of the Coordination Headquarters, negotiations continue in real time, amid informational pressure from Russian special services, which, among other things, try to influence the relatives of prisoners through disinformation.
It is also emphasized that Ukraine deliberately does not disclose the number of released prisoners, as this could harm further exchanges. Preparations for the next stage are currently underway.
