Key facts
- Ukraine secured the return of seven civilians held by Russia.
- The civilians range in age from 35 to 66.
- The civilians were abducted during the occupation of Ukrainian regions in 2022.
- Russia confirmed the return of seven of its own civilians in exchange.
- The civilians were unlawfully detained by Russia for years.
Ukraine announced the successful return of seven civilians who had been unlawfully detained by Russia for years. The individuals, whose ages range from 35 to 66, were reportedly abducted by Russian forces during the occupation of different Ukrainian regions in 2022. The Ukrainian government stated that these civilians were held unlawfully. In confirmation of the exchange, Russia acknowledged the return of seven of its own civilians. The specifics of the negotiations or the exact number of individuals involved in the broader exchange were not detailed, but the focus for Ukraine was the repatriation of its citizens who had been held captive since the 2022 occupation.