Ukraine brings home 270 captives, including five survivors of Olenivka prison attack

According to Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 261 service members and nine civilians were released in the third stage of a prisoner exchange process that began in August.

More than half of the returning service members had been held since 2022, including many captured during the defense of Mariupol.

Those released include members of the Azov Brigade, National Guard, Armed Forces, Border Guard Service and other Ukrainian military formations, as well as 38 officers and nine seriously ill prisoners.

Five of the returning captives survived the July 2022 attack on the Russian-controlled prison in Olenivka, where dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed. Some of the five had previously been believed dead.

The group also includes service members held in captivity since 2018 and 2020.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the exchange secured the return of 86 service members convicted by Russian courts and one other who had faced criminal prosecution - the largest number of such prisoners returned in a single exchange, according to the ombudsman.

The exchange process began on August 19, when 103 Ukrainian service members returned home. Another 10 service members previously listed as missing were released on August 24.

The Coordination Headquarters said those released would receive medical examinations, treatment, rehabilitation and assistance with reintegration after prolonged captivity.

Separately on October 23, Ukraine and Russia carried out a reciprocal return of civilians, with seven people returning to Ukraine and seven others traveling to Russia for family reunification.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue working to bring home everyone still held in Russian captivity.