Among 270 released from Russian captivity are five believed killed in Olenivka

The Ukrainian side received 270 citizens who had been held in Russian captivity. Among them are both military personnel and civilians. The return of five individuals, previously believed killed in the Olenivka terror attack, is of particular significance.

Composition of the returned group and duration of captivity

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this result, calling it very important. According to him, the vast majority of those released had been in captivity for over four years, since 2022.

Among those returned are representatives of various security services: National Guard servicemen (including fighters from the 'Azov' unit), border guards, territorial defence defenders, Navy and Army personnel, Air Assault troops, and State Special Transport Service employees. Nine civilians also returned home.

Defenders of Mariupol and other fronts

A significant part of the group consists of military personnel who participated in the defence of Mariupol. In addition, defenders who fought on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv fronts are returning home.

The head of state emphasised that many of these individuals were illegally sentenced by courts in Russia.

Return of those believed killed

Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid special attention to the return of five individuals who were believed killed in the Russian terror attack in Olenivka, which took place in July 2022.

Further work on releases

The President stressed that Ukraine continues to work on the release of all citizens remaining in captivity. "We remember every single one of them and continue to search for everyone," he stated.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked everyone involved in organising the exchanges. He expressed particular gratitude to the military personnel on the front lines, who replenish the exchange fund, creating conditions for the release of prisoners.

Recall that on 27 September 2026, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov stated that the Ukrainian side expected the swift return of its citizens as part of a large-scale exchange. At that time, the exact date and the number of people planned for release were not specified.