During the Kursk operation, Ukrainian defenders successfully captured a record number of Russian military personnel — 971 individuals
These figures were announced by the official spokesperson of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, highlighting the significant progress of the Ukrainian army in the context of armed resistance against Russian aggression. According to the report, these efforts have become one of the most important components in the system of returning our people from enemy captivity. The General Staff of Ukraine emphasizes that a special role in this process was played by the Kursk offensive operation, which was exceptional and strategic in its concept and achievements. From August 6, 2024, to May 25, 2025, our military operated not only in intense battles but also actively employed unconventional, asymmetric solutions that brought well-deserved successes and surprised the world. Thanks to these unexpected moves, Ukraine was able to significantly replenish its "exchange fund" of prisoners, which holds great bilateral importance in the context of returning citizens and military personnel from Russian captivity. The official statement from the General Staff also stresses that despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy, Ukrainian forces managed to achieve this victory through carefully planned and unconventional operations. This once again proves that victory in today’s war depends not only on numbers but also on strategic skill and the ability to employ surprising tactical decisions. Accordingly, the efforts of the Ukrainian army are aimed at a long-term struggle, which Ukrainians vow to continue until the very end. "The fight for our territories and our people continues. Ukraine will not leave its own behind," the General Staff emphasized, reaffirming their unwavering determination to fight for every citizen and every piece of our land. The background to these events is significant: on May 23, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first phase of a large-scale prisoner exchange in the "1000 for 1000" format, resulting in the release of 390 Ukrainians — 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. The next day, on May 24, another 307 Ukrainian defenders were returned from Russian captivity, mostly enlisted soldiers and sergeants. It is important to note that all of them are men who fought on the front lines or are in captivity due to political persecutions. On May 25, the two sides completed the third part of the "1000 for 1000" exchange, which saw another 303 defenders return home. Despite this active work, many compelling stories and painful realities remain among those still held in Russian captivity. For example, Colonel Denis Prokopenko ("Redis"), commander of the Azov Battalion, stated that during the three-day exchange, none of his subordinates returned home immediately, and there were no "Azov" fighters fit for exchange at all. This has brought up difficult questions and uncertainty regarding the return of these heroes. Additionally, well-known writer and former Kremlin political prisoner Stanislav Aseev highlighted that, in the most recent "1000 for 1000" exchange, none of those released are civilians who have been in Russian captivity for over eight years. This is yet another signal of the difficulties and complexity of the process of returning prisoners, many of whom have been in captivity for years and are awaiting liberation. The fate of these prisoners remains uncertain, and the need for more systematic efforts to secure their release is evident. Overall, these events marked a new stage in Ukraine’s fight for its citizens. They also vividly demonstrated that the Ukrainian army and diplomacy are capable of operating under challenging conditions, employing a wide range of approaches and solutions. Even in the face of the enemy’s overwhelming strength, our defenders continue to prove that the main weapons are not only firearms but also strategy, willpower, and indomitable spirit. Each liberated individual is a small victory in the larger war for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.