Returned 205 Ukrainian personnel from Russian custody

Celebrating Infantry Day, Ukraine Restores 205 Heroes from Russian Custody

In a heartening move, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the homecoming of 205 warriors on Infantry Day. These courageous souls hail from various military branches, with defenders of Mariupol and the front line being an integral part of the group. They were held captive in numerous Russian regions, subjected to humiliation and dehumanization, as per Zelenskyy.

The diverse group of warriors includes personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, such as the Naval Forces, Air Forces, Airborne Forces, Troops of the Operational Command, as well as the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Among them, three officers and 202 soldiers and sergeants made their way back home.

These defenders had been guarding Ukraine's borders at the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, the Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions, the Kherson, Sumy, and Kyiv regions, and from the heroic Mariupol garrison. The exchange that transpired on May 6 marked the fifth such exchange this year and the 64th since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion.

Through negotiations and exchanges since March 2022, the Coordination Staff has successfully returned home 4757 Ukrainian citizens.

Deeper DiscussionThe repatriation process involves diplomatic negotiations and strategic partnerships, with organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Clearview AI playing crucial roles. The former assists with identifying deceased soldiers, while the latter uses facial recognition and DNA matching to repatriate bodies, as demonstrated in the return of 909 deceased soldiers in April 2025 [1][2].

By March 2025, over 4,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war had been rescued since the start of the full-scale invasion in March 2022 [3][4]. By March 20, 2025, this number surpassed 4,328, with 189 civilians included [5]. These exchanges often take place on symbolic dates, although Infantry Day is not explicitly linked to such an event here.

ImpactThese repatriation efforts serve multiple purposes:
Boosting domestic morale, highlighting the government's unwavering dedication to soldiers.
Countering Russian propaganda by unveiling evidence of casualties and prisoner mistreatment, as seen in the execution of unarmed POWs in Donetsk Oblast [4].
Fostering international support through the documentation of war crimes and subsequent sanctions against those justifying aggression [3].

Politics and general news outlets have reported that the repatriation of 205 Ukrainian heroes, including officers from the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service, marked a significant event on Infantry Day.
The dehumanization experienced by these soldiers during their captivity in various Russian regions has been highlighted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who announced their homecoming.
The directions of the war-and-conflicts, such as Donetsk and Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Kyiv, have seen the brave actions of these soldiers who were held captive for an extended period.
Crime-and-justice authorities are investigating reports of humiliation and degrading treatment faced by these repatriated soldiers, as per the testimonies of President Zelenskyy and other officials.
The repatriation process involves strategic directions, with international organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Clearview AI playing vital roles in identification and repatriation, as demonstrated in the return of deceased soldiers in April 2025.