Tears and Reunions as Ukraine Welcomes Freed Soldiers From Russian Captivity
KYIV, June 13, 2025 — Emotions ran high in Kyiv on Thursday as dozens of Ukrainian soldiers returned from Russian captivity, sparking tearful reunions and heartbreaking scenes among families still searching for missing loved ones.
In one of the most emotional moments of the day, Yana Nepotribna, 26, climbed a two-meter wall to spot her husband Denys Nepotribna in the crowd of returning soldiers. Overcome with emotion, she collapsed into his arms as others formed a protective circle around the couple.
“I held on to him like a vulture,” she said. “He says he spoke, but I don’t remember what he said.”
Their reunion was one of the few moments of joy as the first wave of prisoner exchanges took place under a deal brokered in Istanbul. Ukraine and Russia agreed to release over 1,000 prisoners of war, including wounded and young detainees, and return the bodies of deceased soldiers.
Thousands Still Missing
The Ukrainian Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed that the freed group included soldiers previously listed as missing in action. The oldest soldier returned was 59; the youngest, 22.
But for many families, the anguish continues. As ambulances and buses arrived, relatives held banners and photos of missing soldiers, calling out names and brigade numbers, desperate for any news.
“That one is alive,” a wounded soldier whispered after recognizing a photo among the posters lining the walls.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
One soldier draped in a Ukrainian flag shouted into his phone, “Mum, I am in Ukraine and I will soon be home.” Others wept into phones as they called loved ones for the first time in years.
Iryna Melnyk, 44, discovered during the exchange that her son, missing for two years, was alive. She recorded two freed soldiers who recognized his photo and confirmed he was in Russian captivity.
“I showed them a photo and said: ‘57th Brigade. Melnyk.’ One of them recognized him immediately,” she said.
Prisoner Exchanges Continue
Despite ongoing hostilities, prisoner swaps remain one of the few areas of agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. Officials expect more exchanges in the coming days.
Russian state media broadcast returning troops chanting “Russia, Russia” as they arrived draped in national flags.
Ukraine estimates that around 60,000 civilians and soldiers remain missing due to the war, which has now entered its third year and claimed tens of thousands of lives.
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