Zelenskyy: Ukraine returns 10 MIA POWs via Belarus

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has returned 10 servicemen captured by Russia, previously classified as missing in action. The servicemen, from the Armed Forces and National Guard, defended Ukraine in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of their return on Telegram. He emphasized that those still held captive are remembered and being actively sought.

The second phase of the prisoner exchange occurred on Monday, in coordination with Belarus under the guidance of President Zelenskyy. The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on its Telegram channel that these servicemen, comprising sergeants, soldiers, and sailors, were released as part of this exchange. The news came on Ukraine's Independence Day.

The exchange was facilitated through negotiations led by a working group on prisoner exchanges within the Coordination Headquarters. It was disclosed that two of the released individuals had been missing since 2024, while the remaining eight were considered missing since 2025. Each of the returned servicemen will receive support, medical treatment, and participate in a rehabilitation program.

According to reports, a total of 103 Ukrainian servicemen, including 31 with severe injuries, were returned on August 19 from Russian captivity. Among them were individuals from the Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service, and National Guard, including those who fought to defend Mariupol and engaged in combat across various sectors such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Dnipro, and Sumy. The age range of the freed servicemen spans from 20 to 59 years old.