Ukraine has secured the return of 270 of its citizens from Russian captivity, most of whom had been held for more than four years. Among those released are soldiers who defended Mariupol during the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion, members of the Azov Regiment, and five survivors of the 2022 tragedy at the Olenivka prison facility.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced their return on October 23.
“270 of our people are home. A very important result,” the Ukrainian leader wrote.
According to Zelensky, those released include members of the National Guard, border guards, Territorial Defense Forces, Navy, Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces, and the State Special Transport Service. Nine civilians are also returning home.
Most of those released had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. A significant number took part in the defense of Mariupol, a port city in southern Donetsk Oblast that Russian forces captured after a prolonged siege in the spring of 2022.
The returnees also include Ukrainian service members who fought in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv regions.
Zelensky also reported that many of the released Ukrainians had been illegally convicted in Russia.
Of particular significance is the return of five former prisoners of war who survived the explosion at a detention facility in Russian-occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, in July 2022. Dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war, mostly defenders of Mariupol, were killed in the incident. Ukraine accused Russia of deliberately killing the prisoners, while Moscow denied responsibility.
The president emphasized that Ukraine continues working to secure the release of all its citizens who remain in Russian captivity.
“We remember each and every one of them and continue searching for everyone. I thank all those who are working to make these exchanges possible,” Zelensky said.
He also thanked Ukrainian troops who capture Russian soldiers on the battlefield, creating opportunities for further prisoner exchanges.
Despite the return of 270 Ukrainians, securing the release of the remaining prisoners of war and civilian hostages remains one of the key humanitarian challenges of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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