270 Ukrainian prisoners of war come home, most of them Mariupol defenders

Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war on Friday, 23 October: 270 Ukrainian service members returned home and 270 Russian prisoners were handed back, President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian Defence Ministry said. It was the first exchange in two months and the 11th reported in 2026, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Mariupol and Olenivka

Zelensky said most of those freed had been captured during the siege of Mariupol in spring 2022, including Azov fighters, marines and border guards. Five had been presumed dead after the July 2022 explosion at the Olenivka prison camp, The Kyiv Independent reported. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters said a “significant portion” had been convicted on sham charges in Russian captivity.

Civilians and families

Ukrainian officials said nine civilians were also brought home. Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said 12 families were reunited, with seven civilians going each way, with help from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The swap took place at the Novaya Guta crossing in Belarus, a day after the two sides exchanged soldiers’ remains, The Moscow Times reported.