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In the complex landscape of the ongoing conflict, the exchange and capture of hostages remain pivotal issues. Recent events highlight the 72nd prisoner swap, where 175 Ukrainian servicemen and 7 civilians were freed. The Coordination Headquarters has actively facilitated these exchanges, often coinciding with significant national dates, such as Easter. Meanwhile, operational stories unfold, with heroic captures by Ukrainian forces. For instance, Ukrainian unmanned aerial units have been instrumental in securing Russian soldiers' surrenders, showcasing technological superiority. As hostilities continue, the exchange of prisoners — now tallying over 8,000 returnees in four years — underscores diplomatic efforts to resolve humanitarian concerns amid hostilities.

How many Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity so far?

As of the latest reports, over 8,000 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity over the past four years. This significant number reflects ongoing diplomatic and military efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps amid the enduring conflict.

What was the outcome of the recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia?

The recent 72nd prisoner exchange resulted in the release of 175 Ukrainian servicemen and 7 civilians. This underscores continuous diplomatic negotiations and the importance of humanitarian efforts in the ongoing conflict.

What role do unmanned aerial units play in capturing hostages?

Unmanned aerial units, particularly Ukrainian drones, have played a critical role in compelling Russian soldiers to surrender. These advanced technologies provide strategic advantages in surveillance, negotiation, and reducing direct combat risks.

Are there any recent examples of Ukrainian forces capturing Russian soldiers?

Yes, Ukrainian forces consistently demonstrate tactical prowess in capturing Russian troops. For instance, special operations units successfully captured Russian soldiers during stabilization efforts in regions like Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, increasing negotiation leverage for exchanges.

What are the challenges faced in the prisoner exchange negotiations?

Negotiations for prisoner exchanges often face challenges such as political tensions, compliance with ceasefire agreements, and logistical complexities. Nonetheless, they remain a crucial component of diplomatic efforts to protect human rights amid conflict.

How does Ukraine ensure the safety of returned hostages?

After returning from captivity, Ukrainian authorities focus on providing medical care, psychological assistance, and reintegration programs to help former hostages recover from their ordeals and reintegrate into civilian life.

What impact do successful capture operations have on the conflict?

Successful capture operations by Ukrainian forces not only disrupt enemy communications and morale but also bolster Ukraine’s bargaining power in subsequent prisoner exchange negotiations, showcasing military and strategic competence.

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TOP news hostages

interview with captured Russian Captured Russian: "Prices were raised for everything. We didn’t have enough money... I signed contract. My wife said I was f#cking idiot" A video has been published online showing fragments of a conversation with a captured Russian, Vladimir Shayakhmetov, from the 1232nd Separate Motorised Rifle Regiment. 10 074 30 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

росія,полонені Russians captured in Kursk region about Kadyrovites: "Akhmat is just dust in eyes and tick-tockers" The Russians captured in Kursk region told us about their low opinion of the military skills of Kadyrov's forces. 18 996 30 Previously in trend: War

війна Despite diseases and ignorance, Russian invader went to war Russian invader Semenov Oleksandr Oleksandrovych from the 114th Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces was captured. Ukrainian soldiers "captured him" during an unsuccessful attempt to storm positions near Avdiivka. The prisoner said that he was not available for military service due to acute urticaria, a disease that greatly impedes his breathing. 10 884 30 Previously in trend: War

мзс Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands immediate admission of Ukrainian consul to our prisoners of war in Hungary, - Nikolenko The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and other involved bodies of Ukraine continue to take active measures to return home the eleven Ukrainian prisoners of war whom Hungary took from Russia without the knowledge of the Ukrainian government or international human rights organizations. 3 213 29 War in Ukraine

Chinese POWs We are ready to exchange captured Chinese only for Ukrainian soldiers, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to exchange captured Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity. 2 222 29 Previously in trend: Captured Chinese nationals

captured occupier Our paratroopers captured nine Russian soldiers in Kursk region Nine servicemen of the Russian army were captured by Ukrainian paratroopers and their allies in the Kursk region. The prisoners were provided with timely medical and psychological assistance. 10 497 29 Previously in trend: Fighting in Kursk and Sumy regions AFU captured occupiers in Kursk region

полонені Ukraine returned 130 defenders from Russian captivity, including 87 defenders of Mariupol Another exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia took place today. 15 155 29 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap War

олег,калайда "Donbas" battalion captured 7 prisoners in Kupiansk, including two personnel soldiers of Russian Federation, 4 mobilized in occupied territories and traitor Kalaida The "Donbas" battalion of the 15th regiment of the National Guard captured 7 prisoners in the newly liberated Kupiansk, including two Russian servicemen, 4 mobilized in the occupied territories and the traitor Oleh Kalaida. 34 974 29 Previously in trend: War

полонені Ukraine returned another 45 soldiers of Armed Forces from captivity Another exchange of prisoners took place, and it was possible to return 45 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the bodies of two fallen defenders were returned. 10 436 29 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

Journalist Asieiev reportedly sentenced to 15 years in prison in ‘DPR’ Journalist Asieiev reportedly sentenced to 15 years in prison in ‘DPR’ Ukrainian journalist, columnist of Donbas.Realities Radio Liberty’s project Stanislav Aseyev was sentenced to 15 years in prison 2 187 29 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

зеленський Zelensky: Everyone who takes occupiers prisoner at front accelerates freedom for Ukrainians President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the citizens of Ukraine at the end of the 530th day of the war with Russia. 2 705 29 Previously in trend: War

Russian court extends arrest of captured Ukrainian sailors Russian court extends arrest of captured Ukrainian sailors The Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow has extended the arrest of Ukrainian prisoners of war. 3 791 29 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

рф,армія,полонений,шилін Interrogation of Russian prisoner Shilin: "Losses are great, in two days 500 people from 72nd SMRB..." Thirty-year-old Mykola Shilin, a Russian occupier from the 72nd SMRB of the Russian Army, who was captured near Bakhmut, spoke during the interrogation about the main problems of the occupying forces in Ukraine. In particular, about the complete lack of training of the mobilized, poor material, monetary, and food provision. 26 939 29 Previously in trend: War

Zelenskyi Zelenskyi's aide suggests next prisoner swap list could be agreed with Russia in a month Ukraine and Russia could agree on the next prisoner swap lists as early as in a month, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's aide Andrii Iermak. 1 101 29 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

прокопенко,добровольці Commander of "Azov" regiment, Prokopenko, was taken to Russia - his wife The captured from "Azov" Denys Prokopenko was taken by the invaders to the territory of the Russian Federation. It has not been officially confirmed yet. 13 325 29 Previously in trend: War

сирський Covering retreat from Avdiivka, 25 Ukrainian soldiers were captured - Syrskyi The entire state and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are making every effort to free all prisoners of war, including those who were captured while covering the withdrawal of troops near Avdiivka. 7 385 29 War in Ukraine

полонені Ukrainian soldiers captured four occupants Ukrainian soldiers captured four occupants in one of the combat areas. 22 905 29 Previously in trend: War

морпіхи із 810-ї бригади у полоні In Kursk region, SOF fighters capture four Russian marines from 810th Brigade of Russian Army The Ukrainian Armed Forces' Special Forces captured four marines from the 810th Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces in Kursk region. 14 852 29 Previously in trend: War

Galician paratroopers take 11 occupiers prisoner Galician paratroopers capture 11 Russian invaders in battle in Kursk region During a battle in the Kursk region, soldiers of the 80th separate air assault brigade captured 11 Russian soldiers. 11 201 28 Previously in trend: War

обмін A military medic from Azovstal, who was separated from her child by Russians during an evacuation, was released from captivity Victoria Obidina, a nurse who was separated from her four-year-old daughter Alisa by Russians during evacuation from Azovstal, was released today as part of exchange. 13 083 28 Society

війна Captured occupier was robbed and sent to assault: "Commander is bastard, he took my card, there is more than 1 million left, he bought car for himself" Russian citizen Dmitry Rostovtsev is from the Saratov region. He is currently in Ukrainian captivity. The occupier told about the attitude of the Russian command and promised to kill his commander. 10 262 28 Previously in trend: War

полонений Captured Russian soldier about "disabled assault team": "If you don’t sign contract, you have to assault with wounds" The 46-year-old Russian squad leader, Staff Sergeant Yevhen Gaponov, went to war in Ukraine in September 2022. He was mobilised from the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. 5 356 28 Previously in trend: War

хрест,червоний Red Cross will try to get into the shelled colony in Olenivka: a request for a visit has already been submitted Red Cross will try to get into the shelled colony in Olenivka: a request for a visit has already been submitted 4 992 27 Previously in trend: War

зеленський Most of captives who returned home today are defenders of Mariupol - Zelensky President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the citizens of Ukraine at the end of the 358th day of the war with Russia. 3 315 27 Previously in trend: War

розстріл Increasing number of executions of prisoners of war is policy supported by Russian leadership - representative of Prosecutor General’s Office Bielousov The policy of executing Ukrainian prisoners of war is supported by the top leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. 3 355 27 War in Ukraine

полонені Fighters captured five occupiers on left bank of Kherson region Ukrainian soldiers captured five occupiers on the left bank of the Kherson region. 16 707 27 Previously in trend: War

полонені,амуніція Where did our turnstiles come from? Were they also given to you? - Ukrainian ammunition is found among captured occupants Ukrainian turnstiles were found in captured occupants who were mobilized in invaded Donbas. 32 846 27 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

полон,полонені,обмін Weight loss of soldiers returning from Russian captivity ranges from 25 to 70 kg, - ombudsman The Russian occupiers beat and abused captive Ukrainians, and starvation was used as one of the methods of torture. 5 727 27 Previously in trend: War

війна Captured Russian on commanders’ attitude: "We waited for 12 hours for evacuation, we were fed with promises, but no one came" Rusakov Maksym served in the 74th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces. According to him, he and a group of occupiers in three armoured personnel carriers and two tanks went to assault the city. However, in a matter of minutes, the Russians were defeated by Ukrainian soldiers. 5 213 27 Previously in trend: War

полонені Ukrainian soldiers captured group of invaders Ukrainian soldiers captured a group of Russian invaders. 48 651 27 Previously in trend: War

полонений, пвк Вагнер POW from Wagner PMC tells about his march on Moscow: "Our task was to cancel Shoigu and Gerasimov’" Maxim Komisarov is a Russian POW. Originally from Vologda, he has been in prison since he was fifteen. Komisarov once joined the Wagner PMC and participated in Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow. 11 171 26 Previously in trend: War

Zelenskyi invites President of Azerbaijan to host Kyiv-Ankara-Baku summit in Feb Zelenskyi invites President of Azerbaijan to host Kyiv-Ankara-Baku summit in Feb During his working visit to Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi met with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, during which they discussed issues of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the countries, the press service of the Ukrainian leader has said on Wednesday. 4 846 26 Ukrainian Politics

лубінець Concealment of traces of torture of Ukrainians and waste of budget funds by colony's leadership, - Lubinets on possible motives of terrorist attack in Olenivka One of the reasons for the planned terrorist attack in the Olenivka colony may be the desire of the institution's management to hide their own crimes. 2 302 26 Previously in trend: War Russian agression

гривня Cabinet of Ministers has allocated more than UAH 180 million to help prisoners The Government has allocated another UAH 180.7 million from the reserve fund of the state budget for the payment of state aid to prisoners and their families. 1 484 26 Previously in trend: War

полонені,тюрма,катування,тортури Ukrainian prisoners are tortured in Russia and its occupied territories, - UN Russia does not grant access to Ukrainian prisoners of war who are on its territory or on the Ukrainian territories occupied by it. 6 692 26 Previously in trend: War

полонені Ukraine freed 12 citizens from Russian captivity Among them are four soldiers of the Navy, two national guardsmen, border guards, one soldier of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as three civilians. 8 958 26 Society

полонений SOF fighters "trophy" four occupants near Avdiivka: "I’m not your brother, bitch! If you continue to f#ck like this, you will be wasted!" The Ukrainian Armed Forces captured four occupants during a battle near Avdiivka. 33 940 26 Previously in trend: War

окупант молиться на дрон Wounded occupier begged for medicine and water from Ukrainian drone and ran to surrender under fire from Russian artillery The wounded occupier surrendered to the fighters of the 54th Hetman Ivan Mazepa SMB signalling his intention with a drone hovering over the remains of his position. 12 878 26 Previously in trend: War

окупанти,полонені Ukrainian soldiers captured four occupiers in Bakhmut Soldiers of the 93rd Brigade "Kholodny Yar" captured four occupants in Bakhmut. 23 669 26 Previously in trend: War

юсов There are no facts that our military are free - DIU on transfer of prisoners from Russia to Hungary Currently, Ukraine has no information that the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners by the Russian Orthodox Church to Hungary has taken place. In particular, Kyiv does not know whether the military are at large. 4 790 26 War in Ukraine

occupier Captured by Ukrainian Armed Forces, occupier admits to being satanist – returned to Russia in POW swap While Kremlin propaganda claims that Russia is waging war in Ukraine "for the Orthodox faith," some occupying soldiers in its own army turn out to be satanists. One of them, Danil Sergeevich Garan, was captured by Ukraine’s Armed Forces and returned to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange on June 9. 7 072 26 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

обмін,звільнені Women released from captivity by exchange On October 17, 108 women were released from captivity as a result of a prisoner exchange. 18 746 25 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap War

війна Russian prisoner from "Storm Z" about battles in Donetsk region: "Two platoons, and only I survived!" Valery Veselsky is almost 60 years old. He is a native of the Volgograd region. He joined the Storm Z unit, trained in Abkhazia, and then was sent directly to Donetsk Oblast, to the 5th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade as a private. The Russian complains that he was deceived by being promised that "he would not see war - he would only repair equipment". 10 622 25 Previously in trend: War

війна He spent day and half in trench with corpses, looking for water: 59-year-old Russian man is only survivor of occupation group They were going to storm and were taken prisoner: the soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade captured a large party of the occupiers. The 59-year-old Russian, a former master of sports, is the only one who survived and returned to his position. He spent a day and a half in a trench with corpses, looking for water. He hoped that his unit would return for the bodies of the dead, but no one came. 17 835 25 Previously in trend: War

Russia hasn’t banned entry to 24 Ukrainian sailors – lawyer Polozov Russia hasn’t banned entry to 24 Ukrainian sailors – lawyer Polozov Refuting false reports on alleged Russia’s entry ban on 24 Ukrainian sailors, lawyer Nikolai Polozov has stated that they are still in the status of defendants in a criminal case. 1 624 25 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

окупанти,полонені Ukrainian soldiers captured two occupiers and captured armored personnel carrier in Zaporizhzhia direction Ukrainian soldiers captured two occupiers and captured an armored personnel carrier in the Zaporizhzhia direction. 20 097 25 Previously in trend: War

війна Russian prisoner about losses of occupiers in war: "Only a few people from Storm-Z survived" Anton Serebryakov, a captured mechanic-driver from the Storm-Z unit, is from Ulan-Ude. The occupier signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces in February 2023. According to him, only a few people remained alive: they were eliminated by the soldiers of the Armed Forces during the offensive actions in the summer. From the second levy, there are already 54 occupiers – "two hundredths". 8 378 25 Previously in trend: War

обмін Ukraine returned 108 women from captivity, including 37 evacuees from "Azovstal" Ukraine conducted another large-scale prisoner exchange and returned home 108 women, most of them military personnel. 10 891 25 Society