President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the released Ukrainians included privates, sergeants and officers, many of whom had been held since 2022 after defending Mariupol, Azovstal and other front-line sectors. Kyiv said the servicemen would undergo medical checks, treatment and rehabilitation. The exchange followed a May 9–11 ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, though both Ukraine and Russia accused each other of violations. The United Arab Emirates helped facilitate the prisoner swap. The move came after an April exchange in which 175 Ukrainian POWs and seven civilians were returned. “We will continue to fight for every single person who remains in captivity,” Zelenskyy said.
