Ukraine returns 300 soldiers in second day of POW swaps with Russia, Zelenskiy says

A woman embraces a freed Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) while he leaves an ambulance van after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, in Ukraine March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KYIV, ⁠March 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine ⁠brought home 300 ‌servicemen and two civilians from Russia on ​the second day ⁠of ⁠a prisoner swap, President ⁠Volodymyr Zelenskiy ‌said on ⁠Friday.

Zelenskiy said that privates, ​sergeants, ‌and officers were defending ⁠Ukraine ​at different front areas from ⁠Donetsk and Luhansk ​in the east to Kherson in ⁠the south. Zelenskiy posted pictures of men exiting ​buses, hugging ⁠and sharing cigarettes.

(Reporting ​by Yuliia ‌Dysa, Olena ​Harmash; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)