Twenty soldiers from the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine's "Azov" unit have returned from captivity
During the first phase of a major prisoner exchange, 20 soldiers from the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” returned to Ukraine; 19 of them were defenders of Mariupol who had spent nearly four years in Russian captivity. The corps commander, Denys Prokopenko, announced the soldiers’ return.
As a result of the latest prisoner exchange, 20 soldiers from the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” returned to Ukraine, including 19 soldiers who participated in the defense of Mariupol, as reported by the corps commander, Colonel Denys Prokopenko, who emphasized that this is only the first stage of a large-scale exchange under the “1,000 for 1,000” formula.
According to him, most of those released had spent about four years in Russian captivity, and this moment marked their return home after prolonged detention under constant pressure and isolation, while their families had been waiting for news and fighting for their release all this time. “The first stage of the ‘1,000 for 1,000’ exchange has begun. Today, 20 fighters from the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” returned to their homeland, 19 of whom are defenders of Mariupol,” Prokopenko wrote, adding that for him, this is a moment of reunion with comrades who endured extremely difficult conditions.
He also thanked the President of Ukraine, the military personnel from various units who are contributing to the exchange fund, representatives of law enforcement agencies, and international partners who are facilitating negotiations for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, emphasizing that efforts to bring people home are ongoing.
Read also: Prisoner exchange: defenders from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Territorial Defense, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service have returned home
Ukraine and Russia carried out a prisoner-of-war exchange in a 205-for-205 format, according to preliminary data from reports by the Russian side and Telegram channels. Official details regarding the location, time, and lists of participants are currently being clarified.
Ukraine has managed to repatriate over 9,000 of its citizens from Russian captivity, including both military personnel and hundreds of civilians. This was reported by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, who emphasized that efforts to bring people home are ongoing.
In 2025, Ukraine recorded a record number of civilian deaths since the start of the full-scale war. According to official data, Russia remains the biggest violator of human rights, and the number of victims and the extent of destruction continue to rise.
