POW exchange on October 2: 185 servicemen and 20 civilians were returned from Russian captivity
On October 2, a combined exchange of prisoners of war took place, bringing 185 military personnel and 20 illegally detained civilians back to Ukraine. Some of them were released in accordance with agreements reached in Istanbul, while others were released as part of the regular exchange.
Almost all of those released had been in captivity since 2022. The oldest defender is 59 years old, and the youngest is 26. These are servicemen of the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular the Territorial Defense Forces, the Airborne Forces, the Navy, and the Ground Forces.
The soldiers defended Ukraine in the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. These included defenders of Mariupol and National Guard soldiers who were captured at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Among those released were two servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov.” This was reported by Colonel Denys “Redis” Prokopenko, commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov”:
Today, two servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. I welcome our brothers-in-arms, who spent almost three and a half years in the inhumane conditions of Russian prisons, back to their homeland, to their loved ones. Thank you for your strength of spirit and for your resilience.
He emphasized that every soldier who fought in Mariupol, did not betray his oath, and carried out his order must be exchanged.
News
see more
“It’s Not a War Crime If You Had Fun”: Execution of POWs as Russian State Policy
The execution and torture of prisoners of war is a Kremlin state policy, honed over decades of wars of conquest. In the course of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian military has taken its most brutal practices to a new level on a horrifying scale. As of the end of 2025, the Russians had executed at least 337 Ukrainian prisoners of war — a grave war crime.
Amnesty International Report: Executions and Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners of War Continue
Amnesty International has published its annual report on the human rights situation in the world for 2025. The section on Ukraine highlights, among other things, that Ukrainian prisoners of war and detained civilians were subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in Russian captivity. The organization notes that as of December 10, 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine had recorded 322 cases of execution of captured Ukrainian servicemembers by Russian forces.
Second Stage of the Easter Prisoner Exchange: 193 Ukrainians Home
On April 24, 2026, the second stage of the Easter prisoner of war exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place, resulting in the return of 193 Ukrainian defenders. These are representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including a significant number of paratroopers. Also returning home are fighters from the Naval Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard of Ukraine, National Police, State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service.
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.