After Four Years in Captivity, Two Soldiers from the Same Family Finally Return Home

Prisoner Exchange on June 26

According to Главком: On June 26, a prisoner exchange took place, bringing two soldiers from the same family-Oleksiy and Yevhen-back to Khmelnytskyi. Both men were captured in 2022 in Mariupol and spent over four years in Russian captivity. They served in the city's 23rd Marine Guard unit and took part in the defense of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant.

Oleksiy and Yevhen left the Azovstal plant in 2022. Two days before their capture, they managed to call home. Olesia Khomutko, Oleksiy's wife and Yevhen's mother, had not heard from her loved ones since September 2022. She waited for their return for 4 years and 2 months.

Olesia Khomutko: 'My husband and son came back to me at the same time. I had been waiting for this for 4 years and 2 months. It is simply incredible happiness.'

Details of the Exchange

As part of the exchange on June 26, Ukraine brought home 160 military personnel, including members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. All released soldiers had been in captivity since 2022. Additionally, Ukraine secured the release of seven civilians who had been illegally held by Russia since 2022. Among the freed civilians are residents of:

• Mariupol
• Bucha district in Kyiv region
• Kharkiv region
• Zaporizhzhia region
• Luhansk region

Olesia Khomutko shared her emotions: 'I managed to talk to them, to make sure it was really true. They were brought back. They called me for just 10 seconds. But it was an incredible experience. I have never felt anything like this in my life; I am overwhelmed with emotion.' She also recounted how her son, as a soldier, rescued the wounded by evacuating them from the battlefield and was awarded by the president.

The returned soldiers took part in the defense of Mariupol and Azovstal, carrying out combat missions in various areas, including:

• Donetsk
• Luhansk
• Kharkiv
• Zaporizhzhia
• Kyiv
• Chernihiv
• Sumy

The information about the prisoner exchange was provided by Olesia Khomutko, a displaced person from Mariupol who had been eagerly awaiting the return of her family members.

The June 26 prisoner exchange marks a significant event in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The return of military personnel and civilians serves as a beacon of hope for their families and highlights Ukraine's efforts to free its citizens who have fallen victim to the war. This case also underscores the human tragedies tied to the conflict and the critical need to support families who lost contact with their loved ones due to the war.

In addition to the emotional reunions like that of Oleksiy and Yevhen, the recent prisoner exchange on June 26 saw the return of 160 Ukrainian soldiers, highlighting the ongoing efforts to bring home those who have been held captive. This exchange not only included military personnel but also civilians from various regions who faced illegal detainment. For more on the details of this significant operation, including the involvement of Azov fighters, read about the full scope of the exchange here.