Ukrainian soldier reunites with mother after prisoner swap

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the importance of releasing all prisoners of war and captured civilians to help build trust between Ukraine and Russia. A touching video shows a released Ukrainian soldier joyfully telling his mother he loves her. He cried as he shared the news of his release during a prisoner exchange, saying, "We are home! In Ukraine!" This moment occurred after a one-for-one exchange was agreed upon by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18. This exchange was one of the largest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where each side released 175 prisoners. The soldier in the video was among those captured while defending several key areas in Ukraine. Another video showed a released defender celebrating his 27th birthday upon returning home. In an interview, a released prisoner expressed gratitude but also shared the painful experiences he endured, saying, "We’ve been beaten and humiliated for three years." Since the war started, Ukraine has managed to bring back over 4,300 prisoners from Russia, with 1,358 of them returned in 2024 alone. The process of exchanging prisoners requires extensive planning, according to Petro Yatsenko, head of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. President Zelensky noted that all returning soldiers will receive immediate medical and psychological support. Meanwhile, Russia stated that its freed soldiers are receiving care in Belarus before returning home.