270 Ukrainian POWs Return in Exchange; 35 Azov Fighters Among Them

On October 23, 2026, Ukraine received 270 prisoners of war in a swap, including 35 Azov defenders of Mariupol who had been held by Russia since surrendering at Azovstal. The exchange continues an established pattern of prisoner swaps, but the return of Azov fighters—long a symbolic and politically charged group—carries particular significance for Ukrainian morale and domestic politics. The exact terms and total numbers exchanged remain undisclosed, and the status of other Azov personnel still in Russian custody is unclear.

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