Ukraine has returned 4,306 prisoners from Russian captivity – Zelensky
He stated this in his address to the participants of the conference of the Coordination Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, titled "Hope, Struggle, Return – Three Years," Ukrinform reports.
"For more than three years now, nearly the entire duration of this war, our Coordination Headquarters – all the services working to bring our prisoners home – has been operating. Over four thousand people have already been returned – 4,306. And we will bring everyone back. All my negotiations, every meeting with our partners who can help, always include the issue of our Ukrainian prisoners. Now, as we speak with the American side and other partners about how to bring the war to an end, the release of prisoners is one of the very first key steps we discuss," Zelensky said.
He recalled that on March 19, another 197 Ukrainians were freed from Russian captivity.
"The hundreds of thousands of joyful posts on social media, and all the media coverage about the return of our men, show just how much Ukrainians await and honor their people, how happy we are to see our people come back. We remember every single person who is in captivity – all our service members and all our civilians," Zelensky said.
He also emphasized the importance of recognizing that "each person we release is, in fact, a feat of those on the front line who replenish our exchange fund."
"I want to thank all our warriors for such bravery. And please, I ask you not to forget that bringing people home should not be the end of caring for those who were in captivity. It is a duty of all levels of government – and of every person who is simply able to help," he added.
He expressed gratitude for the teamwork of Ukraine's intelligence agency (HUR), the Security Service (SBU), the Interior Ministry, the Ombudsman's Office, and everyone involved in making these returns possible.
"We always bring our people back – and that is one of the most important principles of our state," Zelensky said.
March 19 marked one of the largest prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. A total of 175 Ukrainian defenders were freed from Russian captivity, while another 22 servicemen were repatriated through separate measures outside the formal exchange process.
