115 prisoners of war returned to Ukraine, including soldiers from Kherson region

Ukraine and Russia make the 55th prisoner exchange. Ukraine has returned 115 soldiers from Russian captivity, including defenders of the Kherson region.

This was reported by the State Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

"Today, on our Independence Day, another 115 Ukrainians were returned to Ukraine from enemy captivity," the statement reads.

All the prisoners rescued during the exchange are conscripts, including those who fell into enemy captivity during the heroic defense of their homeland in the first months of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

Among others, nine illegally convicted defenders were released. Navy sailors and three border guards were released, as well as 82 Mariupol defenders (fifty of whom defended Azovstal).

All of those rescued this time were soldiers, sergeants and sailors.

Six National Guardsmen from the garrison guarding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as servicemen who defended Kyiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk regions, are also returning home.

The Ukrainian soldiers who have been freed from enemy captivity today also took part in heavy battles for Gostomel and the reserve command post of the General Staff in Kyiv region, and in Kherson region - for the Chongar checkpoint on the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The headquarters also noted that many of the liberated Ukrainian servicemen have health problems as a result of injuries and Russia's failure to comply with international humanitarian law in captivity. All of them will undergo a medical examination, necessary treatment, receive psychological assistance, reintegrate into our society and receive their due payments.