270 people return: 261 Ukrainian service members and nine civilians
Event date: October 23, 2026 · Verified: October 23, 2026
Ukraine secured the return of 270 people from Russian captivity on October 23: 261 service members and nine civilians, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The Headquarters described the return as the third stage of the combined exchange that began on August 19. Its published statistics record 223 soldiers and non-commissioned personnel, 38 officers and nine civilians. These categories total 270.
The Headquarters said five of the returning defenders had survived the attack on the Olenivka detention facility. It thanked the United States and the United Arab Emirates for their assistance and said all returnees would receive medical examinations, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration support.
Sources and verification
Read the Headquarters’ October 23 announcement and official statistical breakdown. This report distinguishes released people from repatriated remains and does not infer a cumulative total from potentially overlapping statistics.
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