Ukrainians return from captivity: photos of first meetings with relatives published

As a result of one of the largest prisoner exchanges, 230 military and civilian prisoners were returned to Ukraine on 3 January. The State Border Service has published photos of the first meetings with their families.

First meetings with relatives, emotions and tears of happiness of border guards who returned from captivity yesterday," the statement said.

Home from the Russian captivity returned 230 Ukrainians. Among them representatives of the AFU - 130, the National Guard - 55, the State Border Service - 38, the National Police - 1 and six civilians.

Among the returnees, 182 people had the official status of prisoners of war and 48 people were considered missing. Most of those released are men - 225 people, another 5 are women.

The United Arab Emirates provided assistance in the return of Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity.

This was the 49th prisoner exchange since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The last prisoner exchange took place in August 2023, when 22 Ukrainian servicemen were returned.