Exchange 205 for 205: Ukraine returned its military from Russian captivity (photo)

The exchange of prisoners could take place at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, the statement of the Russian Ministry testifies. Ukraine returned 205 servicemen home from Russian captivity. A similar number of Russians returned to the Russian Federation. As Zelensky wrote, among the fighters - representatives of all kinds of troops. The President said that people were kept in different Russian prisons, where they were bullied "beyond humanity.

" Among the people who managed to save are the defenders of Mariupol, he added. "Today, Ukraine has returned 205 soldiers. Young boys and adult men of almost all kinds and families of troops. Defenders of Mariupol and the defenders of the entire front line," Zelensky wrote. The report also emphasized that the exchange took place with the humanitarian support of representatives of the United Arab Emirates.

In the photo, published by Zelensky, we see Ukrainian fighters who are wrapped in flags and rejoice in their return. As of May 2025, Ukraine and the Russian Federation conducted 63 exchanges of prisoners, thanks to which 4 552 Ukrainians managed to return home. From January to April, four exchanges took place: January 15 - liberated 25 people, February 5 - 150, March 19 - 197, April 19 - 246. The Russian Federation gave 175 fighters, confirmed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In addition, thanks to the "out of exchange" measures, 22 more people were saved, the head of state added. As it turned out, the soldiers of the Armed Forces, Navy, Territorial Defense, Border Guards and National Guard were liberated. Among them are the defenders of "Azovstal", as well as the military who participated in the battles in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kherson regions.