On 5–6 March 2026, 500 Ukrainian defenders were returned from Russian captivity as a result of extensive efforts and mediation by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In particular, on 6 March, 300 soldiers and two civilians were released. Among them were members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service who had defended key directions from Mariupol to the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. The youngest of those released was 26 years old, while the oldest was 60.
According to human rights defenders, the condition of many of those released is extremely serious. Due to prolonged captivity (some since 2022), many suffer from critically low body weight and severe psychological distress. All of them have been sent to medical centers for rehabilitation, treatment, and assistance with necessary documents and payments.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a total of 6,922 Ukrainians have been returned home.
However, during the exchange process, new violations of international humanitarian law were recorded. These include cases of psychological pressure in which prisoners of war were forced to record propaganda videos criticizing the Ukrainian authorities as a condition for their transfer to Hungary. The Coordination Headquarters considers this a provocation and a violation of the Geneva Convention. Although this exchange is a significant achievement, it once again highlights the need for constant international monitoring of the conditions in which Ukrainian prisoners are held.