10 June 2025
(Photo: 36th Brigade Combat Team.)
As a result of the latest exchange of prisoners of war, marines have returned to Ukraine.
According to the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi, the brigade's patronage service met our brothers on Ukrainian soil.
"Together with their families, we share the joy of this meeting and pride in their endurance and dignity," the statement reads.
The brigade also noted that the military will have a period of recovery and adaptation ahead.
"A period of treatment, recovery and adaptation is ahead. We are grateful to everyone who worked, fought and never stopped to make this event happen," the brigade added.
Earlier, 12 marines who were captured while defending Mariupol returned home from Russian captivity as part of one of the largest exchanges.
On June 8, Mykolaiv hosted another event to remind the public about prisoners of war and missing defenders. The event was attended by relatives of the soldiers, their friends and concerned citizens - about 250 people in total.
In May, on the eve of Mother's Day, a car rally was held to support the families of prisoners of war. The event was attended by about 300 people who wanted to draw attention to those who have not yet returned from the war. A convoy of cars with national flags drove through the city from the railway station to Pier 8. Among the participants were relatives of the military, volunteers and concerned citizens who reminded of the many defenders who remain in captivity or are missing.
The final stage of the large-scale exchange of prisoners in the "thousand for a thousand" format took place on May 25, with 303 defenders returning to Ukraine. The liberated soldiers defended the country in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, as well as in Kherson, Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Among them are 70 defenders of Mariupol who are finally returning home.
Marine Denys, who spent 993 days in Russian captivity, joined one of these events. People greeted him warmly, and the soldier came with his daughter.
Олеся Ланцман