Ukraine began a multi-stage prisoner exchange with Russia on 9 June, with the first group of Ukrainian servicemen under 25 years old returning home from captivity.

“Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. Today an exchange began that will continue in several stages over the coming days,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports that final numbers of released prisoners will be disclosed after the completion of the exchange process for security reasons.

The first group consists of wounded and severely wounded prisoners, as well as those under 25 years old. Among the released are representatives of the Naval Forces, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Border Guard Service, National Guard, and State Special Transport Service. All freed personnel are enlisted soldiers and sergeants.

“Among the categories of those we are returning now are the wounded and severely wounded, as well as those under 25 years old. The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually daily,” Zelenskyy said.

Defenders of Mariupol who spent more than three years in captivity are among those released, according to the Coordination Headquarters.

The exchange implements agreements reached during negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June, where Ukraine and Russia agreed to return “6000 for 6000” bodies of fallen soldiers and exchange “all for all” severely wounded and young servicemen aged 18 to 25.

The Coordination Headquarters confirmed this represents only the first part of a large-scale exchange that will continue within the framework of reached agreements. Work also continues on repatriating the bodies of Ukrainian military personnel killed defending the homeland.

Returned defenders will receive full support, including document restoration, payment of due military compensation for the entire period in captivity, one-time assistance, and medical rehabilitation courses, the Coordination Headquarters assured.

The exchange addresses specific categories of prisoners of war, particularly those under 25, severely wounded, and seriously ill captives.

Russia had spread false information on June 6 about the alleged start of repatriation activities, then claimed Ukraine “refused to take the bodies of its citizens.” The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that the aggressor state speculates on sensitive topics while preparation for the exchange continues.

Zelenskyy previously reported that of the 6000 military bodies Russia wants to transfer to Ukraine, only 15% are identified.

Russia and Ukraine have begun exchanging prisoners of war under a deal reached during last week’s peace talks in Turkey, with Moscow saying the first stage involves the return of younger soldiers.

During negotiations in Istanbul last Monday, both sides agreed to release all wounded troops and captured soldiers under the age of 25 — more than 1,000 people on each side. They also pledged to exchange the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers each.

“In accordance with Russian-Ukrainian agreements, the first group of Russian servicemen under the age of 25 was returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange on X, saying it “will continue in several stages over the coming days.”

“This process is very complex and sensitive,” Zelensky said. “Negotiations are ongoing almost every day. We are doing everything we can to bring our people home.”

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the exchange began earlier in the day and would continue in stages over the coming days. He said the current group being returned includes the wounded, the seriously wounded, and those under 25.

Russia and Ukraine confirmed Monday, June 9, that they’ve begun a new prisoner exchange, starting with young captives under the age of 25.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its first group of young soldiers – all under 25 – had been returned from Ukraine and had arrived in Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. The ministry did not say how many soldiers were released.

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The exchange follows a second round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine held June 2 in Istanbul. At the meeting, both sides agreed to exchange all wounded soldiers and those aged under 25 – more than 1,000 people on each side. Moscow also promised to return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war.

Zelensky said the agreements reached in Istanbul on humanitarian issues must be fully honored.

“We must bring everyone home,” he said. “We are working on this at all levels.”

This exchange is set to be the largest of the war, topping last month’s 1,000-for-1,000 swap that was agreed at a first round of talks in Istanbul.

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As Kyiv Post reported earlier, the exchange was thrown into question over the weekend as both sides accused each other of delaying and thwarting the swap.

In his evening address on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of playing a “dirty, political” game over the swap after the two sides accused each other of delays.

“The Russian side, as usual, is trying to play a dirty, political, information game,” Zelensky said adding that if Russia fails to comply with the deal to release more than 1,000 captured soldiers, it “will cast great doubt” on diplomatic efforts a peace.

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A new exchange between Ukraine and Russia has began on Monday 9 June, and will continue in several stages over the coming days.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: “Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days.

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Among those we are bringing back now are the wounded, the severely wounded, and those under the age of 25. The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day.

We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul. We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person. We are working toward this at every level.”

Details: The Coordination Headquarters has stated that, for security reasons, the final number of released prisoners will be made public after the exchange process is complete.

The first group of POWs are service members aged under 25, who have been released today.

Among those freed are members of the Ukrainian Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defence Forces, the Air Force, Air Assault Forces, the Border Guard Service, the National Guard and the State Special Transport Service. All those released are from the ranks of privates and sergeants.

Ukrainian defenders brought back from Russian captivity. Photo: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Some of the freed defenders are defenders of Mariupol who had spent more than three years in captivity.

This is only the first phase of the large-scale exchange that will continue under the agreed arrangements.

The exchange concerns specific categories of prisoners of war, particularly those under the age of 25, as well as severely wounded and seriously ill POWs.

Ukrainian defenders brought back from Russian captivity. Photo: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Work is also ongoing to repatriate the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who died defending their homeland.

The Coordination Headquarters has asserted that all released defenders will be provided with the necessary support. Their documents will be restored, they will receive financial compensation for the entire time in captivity, a one-time allowance, and will undergo medical rehabilitation.

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