Ukraine Just Freed 103 Soldiers. Russia Has Not Asked for Its Foreign Recruits Back.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced the release of 103 Ukrainian servicemen in the first stage of a new prisoner exchange, conducted by order of the President. The USA and UAE assisted in organising the exchange.

Most of the freed soldiers carry wounds or serious illnesses. They served across the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy directions, and represent the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Naval Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service. Several officers were among those released. The youngest was born in 2000. The oldest is 59.

All freed soldiers will receive full medical examination, physical and psychological rehabilitation, and all state-provided payments. Ukraine will support their reintegration.

Who Was Not Included

Foreign nationals captured while fighting in Russia's armed forces were not included in the exchange as Russia doesn't want them back. Ukraine is currently holding prisoners of war from 51 countries - men from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and elsewhere who ended up in Russia's military and were captured on the battlefield. 

Russia sends foreign recruits on its most dangerous missions and neither informs nor compensates their families when they die. The lucky ones survive and end up in Ukrainian captivity - but Russia makes no effort to exchange them. 

Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War