Kherson resident, who was taken away with a bag on his head, returned from captivity

During the regular exchange of prisoners on April 11, a resident of Kherson, who had spent three and a half years in Russian captivity, returned to Ukraine.

According to the Media Initiative for Human Rights, it is 24-year-old Mykola Shcherbyna from Kherson. He was among 182 Ukrainians - 175 defenders and 7 civilians - who were released as part of the 72nd exchange. According to the Coordination Center, most of them had been in captivity since 2022.

Mykola's story is one of those that shows the realities of the occupation. After the city was captured by Russian troops, his mother decided to take her son to the village of Novotroitske, hoping he would be safer there. However, in November 2022, the boy and his friend were detained by Russian security forces.

Eyewitnesses said that they were taken out of the house with bags on their heads and taken to an unknown destination. At first, the family was told that it was a so-called "filtration " that would allegedly last for several days. However, later it became known that Mykola was taken to the occupied Crimea, and later to a detention center in the Russian city of Kamyshyn, Volgograd region.

The boy's mother, Valentyna Shcherbyna, had been waiting for his return for more than three years.

"My son was released! I still can't believe it... I've talked to him several times. He says everything is fine, he smiles," she said.

According to her, after his release, Mykola was able to contact his family - first briefly, then via video, and then from his phone.

Currently, the released Kherson resident is in quarantine. After that, he will be able to meet with his family. A long process of rehabilitation after his experiences in captivity lies ahead.

Photo: Ombudsman's Office. Mykola Shcherbyna (fourth from right) with other released prisoners, April 11, 2026.

As a reminder, during the last prisoner exchange with Russia in winter, five Ukrainian defenders from Odesa region, who had spent almost four years in Russian captivity, returned home. On February 5, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first prisoner exchange since October. 157 Ukrainians returned home, while a similar number of occupants were sent to Russia. This is the 71st exchange to date. 150 soldiers and seven civilians returned home. 139 released Ukrainian citizens had been in Russian captivity since 2022.

Earlier, the human rights organization Prisoners' Defense of Ukraine said that the Russian Federation had included prisoners from Kherson and Mykolaiv regions in a large-scale prisoner exchange that took place from May 23 to 25. According to the organization, each side handed over 1,000 people: 880 military and 120 civilians. Also among those released are about 50 Ukrainians who were held in Russian prisons on various charges. Upon completion of their sentences, they were not deported, as provided by law, but left in temporary detention centers for migrants.

Андрій Колісніченко