Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on his Telegram channel.“Our people are home. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022. Today, our defenders return who fought for Ukraine in various regions: Donetsk region and Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson regions. These are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — including representatives of the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense, Air Assault Forces, and Special Operations Forces, as well as the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the State Special Transport Service, and also civilians,” Zelenskyy wrote.According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, this is another stage of the prisoner exchange carried out under the agreements made in Istanbul. A group of defenders was returned from Russian captivity from the categories of “wounded and seriously ill,” as well as “under 25 years old.”The youngest released soldier is just 20 years old, while the oldest is 59. Along with soldiers and sergeants, some officers were also freed.Among those released today are defenders of Mariupol who had been held in captivity since 2022. Most of the freed individuals had been prisoners for over three years.Today’s release also included unlawfully convicted troops and civilians deprived of their liberty in Russian captivity.Those freed will undergo necessary medical examinations, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation support, as well as all due payments for the entire period of captivity.The exchange process under the Istanbul agreements is ongoing. The exact number of those released will be announced after all stages of the exchange are completed.The previous stage of the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on June 26. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service returned home.