Russia and Ukraine carried out a massive prisoner exchange on Wednesday, with each side releasing 175 captives in what marks one of the largest swaps since the war began three years ago.

“We are bringing back soldiers, sergeants, and officers — warriors who fought for our freedom in the ranks of the Armed Forces, the Navy, the National Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, and the Border Guard Service,” declared Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on X.

Since the Russian invasion began 2022, Ukraine has secured the release of more than 4,000 captives, including both military personnel and civilians. According to United Nations reports, most Ukrainian POWs suffer medical neglect, systematic mistreatment, and torture while detained.

This exchange unfolded near the northern border between the warring nations as families waited anxiously at a hospital in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. When buses carrying the freed prisoners finally arrived, frail and exhausted soldiers emerged to emotional reunions, many showing visible signs of their ordeal including missing teeth and skin conditions. While some families celebrated, others moved desperately through the crowd carrying photographs of still-missing relatives, questioning the released POWs about possible sightings of their loved ones.

Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian negotiation team and international partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, for facilitating the exchange. He also promised that all returnees would receive immediate medical and psychological assistance, adding that “Ukraine remembers each of its heroes, and we will bring everyone home.”

Apart from the major exchange, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the separate release of 22 severely wounded Ukrainian captives in what they termed a “goodwill gesture.” However. sources tell the Associated Press, during a recent conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latter had initially promised to release 23 Ukrainian POWs as part of negotiations for a ceasefire.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has addressed the discrepancy in numbers.