On April 19, Ukraine welcomed back 277 servicemen, including 246 released through a prisoner exchange and 31 others freed separately.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelensky, Coordination Headquarters for POW Affairs

Quote: "Today, we welcomed back 277 Ukrainian heroes from captivity.

These servicemen represent the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards. They defended Mariupol, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk."

Zelensky expressed gratitude to all involved in the exchange organization, particularly highlighting the mediation efforts of the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Coordination Headquarters, 246 servicemen were released through the exchange, and 31 individuals were freed outside of this process.

Most of those liberated are young people born after 2000. Among them is a female serviceman who has been in captivity since May 2022.

Of the released, 268 are privates and sergeants, along with 9 officers.

This exchange is the fourth this year and the 63rd since the beginning of the large-scale invasion.

This year alone, 596 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity through exchanges, and 53 defenders have been freed outside of them.

Since March 2022, the Coordination Headquarters has freed 4552 Ukrainian citizens through negotiations and exchanges. Additionally, 529 individuals have been liberated outside of exchanges.