In 2026, 170 National Guard soldiers were returned from Russian captivity
Since the beginning of 2026, 170 servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard have been released through eight prisoner exchanges.
According to National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko, the process of returning defenders from Russian captivity is ongoing. The Ukrainian side continues to work on securing the release of other servicemembers.
“The return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, determining the fate of those missing in action, the evacuation of the bodies of fallen defenders, as well as the treatment and rehabilitation of servicemembers remain among Ukraine’s key priorities,” the statement reads.
The commander of the National Guard noted that since the beginning of 2026, there have been eight prisoner exchanges, resulting in the return of 170 National Guard servicemembers from Russian captivity.
Pivnenko reported that this year, the National Guard has sent 24 official appeals to Ukraine’s diplomatic missions abroad, international organizations, and the military structures of partner states.
The appeals call for increased international pressure on Russia and the activation of all possible mechanisms to secure the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The families of servicemembers received more than 220 consultations
Representatives of the National Guard of Ukraine are constantly working at the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and its regional centers in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, and Lviv.
Since the beginning of the year, specialists have conducted 50 group and 177 individual consultations for the families of service members.
Nearly 90% of applications for family identification cards have already been processed
A separate area of focus for the National Guard remains supporting the families of fallen soldiers and those considered missing in action.
According to Pivnenko, since the beginning of the year, specialists have processed nearly 90% of applications for certificates for family members of fallen and missing-in-action service members.
He emphasized that each such document is backed by state guarantees of social protection and a commitment to the families of the defenders.
Evacuating the fallen remains one of the most dangerous tasks
The National Guard noted that evacuating the bodies of fallen soldiers from the battlefield is currently one of the most difficult tasks due to constant enemy surveillance using reconnaissance and strike drones.
To carry out such missions, National Guard units employ various tactical approaches, including nighttime operations, camouflage techniques, ground-based robotic systems, and specially trained evacuation teams.
This was reported by National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko.
Ukraine has already repatriated more than 9,500 people from Russian captivity, according to Zelenskyy.
Ukraine carried out another prisoner exchange and brought home 160 servicemen who had been held captive by Russia since 2022. Among those released are defenders from various units who fought on the front lines in the fiercest areas of the conflict. All of them are now back on Ukrainian soil and are receiving the necessary assistance.
During today’s prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, nearly all of the released Ukrainian defenders had been held in enemy captivity since 2022.
