Largest Prisoner Swap Yet: Ukraine Brings Home 185 Defenders.

Major Prisoner Exchange in Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: On June 5, Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange that secured the release of 185 Ukrainian defenders and one civilian. This swap represents a significant milestone for the families of the freed service members and for Ukrainian society as a whole.

The returning troops come from various branches of the military, including:

• Armed Forces of Ukraine
• National Guard
• State Border Guard Service

Some of them had endured harsh conditions in Russian captivity for more than four years, dating back to 2022. These defenders had carried out combat missions across multiple frontlines, including in:

• Donetsk
• Luhansk
• Kharkiv
• Kherson
• Zaporizhzhia
• Sumy
• Kyiv
• Kursk

This exchange marks the second such event in June, following a previous swap on May 15 that brought back 205 Ukrainians. Notably, on May 4, Russia handed over 375 bodies of individuals who had been classified as prisoners of war.

The work continues

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Prisoner exchanges are a critical step in the process of returning Ukrainian defenders home, and Kyiv remains actively engaged in these efforts.

This latest swap underscores Ukraine's ongoing commitment to repatriating its citizens—a key factor in sustaining public morale and military resolve. The steady pace of exchanges also highlights the complexity and prolonged nature of the conflict, where Ukrainian fighters face severe challenges while in enemy captivity. For its part, the Ukrainian government continues to pursue all available avenues to ensure the safety and return of everyone still held by the adversary.