Ukraine Secures Release of Seven Civilians from Russian Captivity

Ukraine has secured the return of seven civilian citizens who had been illegally held in Russian captivity for years, according to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

The released individuals, who range in age from 35 to 66, were all detained by Russian forces in 2022 during the occupation of Mariupol, as well as the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions. Lubinets specifically highlighted that the detainees from the Kyiv region were taken from the Bucha district, an area where occupying forces committed widespread atrocities in the early stages of the invasion.

According to the ombudsman, the circumstances of their detentions varied. One Ukrainian was abducted from his home simply because his sons were serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while another was detained while traveling to work on the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion.

The group also includes a volunteer who had joined the “Taira’s Angels” paramedic brigade in Mariupol in 2022. The volunteer was captured on the same day as the prominent Ukrainian paramedic known as “Taira,” who was successfully released in a prior exchange.

Lubinets stated that the return of these civilians was the result of direct humanitarian coordination with Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova. He extended his gratitude to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Foreign Intelligence Service, and all other agencies operating under the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

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Broader prisoner exchange

The release of the civilians comes amid renewed momentum in repatriation efforts. On Friday, Ukraine and Russia conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange, with each side returning 160 prisoners of war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of the 160 Ukrainians, which included servicemembers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. The released personnel included defenders who fought in Mariupol and at the Azovstal steel plant, as well as on the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy front lines.

“We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity,” Zelensky said, thanking the negotiating team and the frontline units whose operations replenish Ukraine’s exchange fund. “Special thanks to all our units on the front line that replenish Ukraine’s exchange fund, and through their bravery, make it possible for us to bring our people home.”

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Presidential Office, welcomed the released prisoners, noting the difficulty of their captivity and stating that their reunions with loved ones represent “real, genuine happiness” for the entire country.

Following the exchanges, Zelensky reaffirmed Kyiv’s commitment to securing the release of all remaining captives. “We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every single name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians,” he stated.