On April 19, Ukraine celebrated the return of 277 servicemen, of whom 246 were part of a prisoner exchange, while 31 individuals were freed outside of the exchange process.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelensky, Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Direct quote: "Today we proudly announce that 277 soldiers have returned from Russian captivity.

These are members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards who defended Mariupol and other critical regions such as Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk."

Details: Zelensky thanked everyone involved in organizing the exchange, particularly noting the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Coordination Headquarters, 246 soldiers were returned as part of the exchange, and 31 individuals were liberated outside of it.

Most of those freed were young people born after 2000. Among the returnees was a female serviceman who had been in captivity since May 2022.

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

This exchange is the fourth in 2023 and the 63rd since the start of the full-scale invasion.

So far this year, 596 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity through exchanges, and 53 defenders have been freed outside of exchanges.

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