The second stage of the “1000 for 1000” prisoner exchange: 27 defenders of Mariupol have returned to Ukraine

The youngest of those freed from captivity is 25 years old.

During the second stage of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, 27 defenders of Mariupol were returned from Russian captivity. All 307 released Ukrainian prisoners are enlisted and non-commissioned personnel — soldiers of the National Guard, State Border Guard Service, Air Assault Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and the Navy. They had been defending Ukraine in the Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk sectors, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on Telegram.

It was also noted that, for the first time, Ukrainian prisoners from certain military units and divisions were successfully freed.

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that the oldest released prisoner is 61 years old, and the youngest is 25. According to him, some of the defenders have injuries and illnesses.

The Coordination Headquarters noted that all Ukrainian soldiers will undergo medical examinations and receive the necessary psychological and physical rehabilitation, as well as financial compensation for the time they spent in Russian captivity.

During the first stage of the exchange, 390 Ukrainian military personnel and civilians were returned home. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the third stage of the exchange is expected on May 25.

Defense Minister and head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov earlier stated that, during negotiations with the Russians in Istanbul, an agreement was reached to carry out a prisoner exchange in a “1000 for 1000” format. Two days ago, Russia and Ukraine exchanged lists of individuals for the upcoming swap.

Anna Konuchenko