Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his joy following the return of 277 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity.
In a post shared on his X account on Saturday, Zelensky extended his gratitude to all who contributed to the successful return, with special appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its mediation efforts.
“Our people are home—one of the best pieces of news that can be. Another 277 warriors have returned home from Russian captivity,” he posted, along with a video of the returning soldiers.
He added that the freed personnel included members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards.
These soldiers had been involved in defending Mariupol and other strategic locations across Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions.
“I thank everyone who made this return of our people possible. I am especially grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their mediation,” Zelensky said.
He noted that since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has managed to bring back a total of 4,552 individuals, including both military personnel and civilians, from Russian captivity.
“We remember all those who remain in captivity. We are searching for everyone who could be there. We must bring them all home,” he added.
This development comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced a halt to “all military operations” in Ukraine as part of an “Easter truce.”
The ongoing conflict between the two countries has now lasted more than three years, leading to significant casualties on both sides.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders continue pushing for a peace agreement aimed at ending the war that has claimed thousands of lives.