The third wave of prisoner exchanges in the “1000 for 1000” format with Russia: over 300 more defenders have returned home
On May 25, Ukraine conducted the third stage of a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war with the Russian Federation, in the “1000 for 1000” format. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after three days of negotiations in Turkey, an agreement was reached to release an additional 303 Ukrainian heroes. This is a significant step in returning home those who bravely defended Ukraine against Russian aggression. In his speech, Zelenskyy emphasized: “Our warriors are returning — brave defenders of Ukraine, including representatives of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Special Transport Service.” These words refer not only to the physical transition from captivity back to freedom but also to the efforts of the state invested in bringing each Ukrainian home. According to the coordinating headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war, among those released in this exchange are representatives of various units of the Ukrainian army and security forces. Among them are sailors from the Naval Forces, aviators from the Air Force, paratroopers, members of the Air Assault Forces, as well as soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, State Emergency Service, and the State Transport Service. Notably, among the released are 70 defenders of Mariupol — those who heroically held the defense of this strategic city in Donetsk. All returnees are men, mostly privates and sergeants, who fought in different regions: from Donbas and Zaporizhzhia to Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Chernihiv. They operated under the most difficult conditions, distinguished by courage and resilience during long battles in some of the hottest sectors of the front. This three-day exchange marked the 65th since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During this period, from March 2022 onward, through negotiations and exchanges, the Ukrainian side has secured the freedom of 5,757 citizens who were captured by the enemy. These figures testify to the tireless work of Ukrainian diplomacy and the Ministry of Defense, which continues to exert efforts to meet the challenges of war and to free their compatriots. The “1000 for 1000” exchange with Russia remains one of the largest and most complex since the escalation of the conflict, but it offers hope to Ukrainians for a quicker return home and boosts the country’s morale. At the same time, this process underscores the importance of international diplomacy and dialogue in difficult military conditions, as well as the unwavering determination of the Ukrainian authorities and citizens to bring their defenders out of captivity and to reunite them with their loved ones at home.