Ukraine and RF conducted a "big Easter exchange": photos of released Ukrainians have appeared

Ukraine and Russia conducted a major prisoner exchange on the eve of Easter. It was possible to return home 175 warriors and 7 civilians.

This is reported in the  Telegram channel of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Our people are returning home. 175 military personnel. Warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guard members, border guards. Privates, sergeants, and officers. And seven civilians," Zelenskyy reported.

According to the president, the freed warriors defended Ukraine on various fronts: in Mariupol, at Chornobyl NPP, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk directions.

Among them are wounded. Most have been in captivity since 2022. Finally, they are home.

"Thank you to every unit that replenishes our exchange fund and thus brings closer the return of our people. Returning everyone from Russian captivity is a matter of principle for us. Thank you to everyone in the world who helps us with this," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Photo: Ukraine and RF conducted a prisoner exchange (t.me/Kyrylo_Budanov_Official)

The Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Budanov clarified that as part of the exchange, 182 Ukrainians were returned — 175 military personnel and 7 civilians.

"I’m glad that among the freed soldiers — most of those who have been in captivity since 2022, including the heroic defenders of Mariupol. Also home are 25 officers, whose release was extremely difficult, but the entire Coordination Headquarters team coped and achieved success again," he wrote.

Budanov expressed gratitude to partners from the US and UAE for their assistance in organizing the Easter exchange.

Photos from the prisoner exchange on April 11 (t.me/Koord_shtab)

The Coordination Headquarters reported that the youngest freed is 22 years old, the oldest is 63.

Among today’s freed military personnel — representatives of the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defence Forces, Airborne Assault Troops, Special Operations Forces, Air Force, SSU, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service.

In addition, 7 civilian Ukrainians captured by Russian occupiers back in 2022 have returned to their homeland.