Ukraine Brings Home Gravely Ill, Young, and Long-Sentenced Defenders from Russian Captivity
On Friday, July 4, another prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian military personnel and civilians — many of whom had been held in Russian captivity since 2022 — returned home. The news was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
This exchange focused primarily on the severely ill, severely wounded, and young people under the age of 25. Their captivity was confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross or other sources. A notable feature of this exchange was the return of Ukrainian defenders who had been sentenced to long prison terms by Russian authorities — individuals who had previously proven very difficult to repatriate. Among the freed are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service. In addition to soldiers and sergeants, officers were also among those released. The youngest of the freed defenders is just 20 years old, and the oldest is 59.
The Coordination Headquarters' information system allows for the collection of data about Ukrainian citizens held in captivity from various sources. Using this data, a unique map of detention locations across Russia, Belarus, and the temporarily occupied territories has been created. Despite Russia’s refusal to provide official information about prisoners or to allow International Committee of the Red Cross representatives or mixed medical commissions access to prisons and pre-trial detention centers, the Coordination Headquarters has managed to compile a significant amount of reliable data. Families of the prisoners, volunteers, and both state and civil institutions involved in the release efforts play an active role in this process.
