Ukraine returns 130 soldiers in Orthodox Easter swap with Russia

Ukraine and Russia have held a major Easter prisoners-of-war (POW) exchange.

On April 10, Ukraine brought back home a hundred soldiers, and on Easter Sunday – another 130 of defenders, Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports.

Over the past week, the team of the Coordination Headquarters managed to free 230 of our soldiers from the captivity of the enemy. All of them will be able to celebrate Easter. Together with the whole country, we welcome the rescued defenders to their native land and do not stop our efforts to release all captured Ukrainians, the statement says.

All rescued defenders are privates and sergeants. Most of the liberated soldiers defended Ukraine in the Bakhmut and Soledar regions, as well as in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk region.

The oldest of the released Defenders is 58 years old, the youngest is 21 years old, the report adds.

48 of the 130 defenders released today were considered missing. Some of the rescued have injuries, numerous concussions and lost limbs.

"Heroes must be alive", Ukraine's president Zelensky says. The Coordination Headquarters consistently returns Ukrainian defenders, having one mission : return everyone.