On July 23, the ninth stage of the exchange, agreed in Istanbul, took place.

This was announced by Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram.

Returning home are critically ill and severely wounded defenders. We can now confirm that over 1000 of our people have been brought back in all stages of the recent Istanbul agreements. For thousands of families, this is a moment of joy to embrace their loved ones again. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort.

The warriors returning today defended Ukraine across various fronts. Many have been in captivity for over three years. All will receive the necessary support and medical care.

It is crucial that exchanges continue and our people are coming home. Thank you to everyone who is committed to this vital work. Bringing all our people back is a priority for the state, and we will continue all efforts to ensure that every one of our citizens returns from captivity.