POW exchange: 500 servicemen and two civilians returned to Ukraine under agreements reached in Geneva
On 5-6 March 2026, a two-day exchange of prisoners of war took place between Ukraine and Russia. On the first day, 200 military personnel returned to Ukraine, and on the second day, another 300. Separately, two civilians were also returned. The exchange was made possible by agreements reached in Geneva with the mediation of the United States.
Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov noted:
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to achieving such important results on the humanitarian track: US President Donald Trump and his administration, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and the entire American negotiating team, as well as the United Arab Emirates. My gratitude goes to the Coordination Headquarters team and all the structures that, on behalf of the President of Ukraine, continue to work for the release of our prisoners.”
Those released include members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Air Assault Forces, the Navy, Territorial Defence Forces, the Air Force, the Unmanned Systems Forces, as well as fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service. Among those released are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, defenders who protected the country in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
In total, since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to return 8,050 of its citizens from Russian captivity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Ukrainian soldiers who are replenishing the exchange fund, the team that worked for the return, and the United States for its mediation:
“It is important that the agreements worked. We remember each and every one of them, and we must bring back all our people.”
News
see more
“We are all significantly falling short,” Denys Prokopenko comments on the 75th prisoner exchange
On June 5, 2026, the 75th prisoner exchange took place. As part of the exchange, 185 prisoners of war and one civilian – who had been held captive by the Russians since 2022 – returned to Ukraine. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which expressed gratitude to the United States and the UAE for their assistance in organizing the exchange.
“Honorable Captivity” of Azov: Civic Evidence Publishes Report on the Fate of Azov Fighters in Russian Captivity
The independent initiative Civic Evidence has released a comprehensive report titled “‘Honorable Captivity’ of Azov: The System of Propaganda, Violence, and Criminal Prosecution of Servicemembers of the National Guard of Ukraine in the Russian Federation.” The report details the fate of the «Azov» service members in Russian captivity, illustrating how propaganda narratives, systemic violence, and the Russian judicial system cooperate to construct a negative image of the fighters and justify their heinous mistreatment.
“Made in Russia. Delivered to Captivity”: Project on Russia’s Crimes Against POWs Presented in Kyiv
The project "Made in Russia. Delivered to Captivity" was presented in Kyiv. The event marks the 4th anniversary of the Mariupol garrison's withdrawal from "Azovstal" after 86 days of heroic defense of the city. Back then, under the provided guarantees, the defenders of Mariupol fulfilled the order of the higher command to save lives. However, the Russian Federation violated these guarantees—the majority of the "Azovstal" defenders are now in their fifth year of suffering from daily crimes in Russian captivity.
questions & answers
You can make a difference
Have a question, a message, or something important to share?
Whether it’s information, a concern, or a word of support, we want to hear from you.
Every voice matters.