Kyiv [Ukraine]: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 1,358 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were successfully brought home from Russian captivity in 2024.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the “Ukrainian team” for their efforts in securing these releases and urged for continued focus on bringing more citizens home in 2025, along with striving for an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In 2024, we managed to bring 1,358 of our people back home to Ukraine from Russian captivity. These are our soldiers and civilians.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 3, 2025
Their fates are different, but they are equally happy to return home. Each and every one of them for the sake of whom a large Ukrainian team… pic.twitter.com/AxTPYlmYhv
“In 2024, we managed to bring 1,358 of our people back home to Ukraine from Russian captivity. These are our soldiers and civilians. Their fates are different, but they are equally happy to return home. Each and every one of them for the sake of whom a large Ukrainian team worked. We must do everything to ensure that in 2025, there will be even more such good news and returns of our people. Thank you to our partners who help,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which escalated into a full-scale invasion by Moscow in February 2022, has led to widespread devastation and significant civilian casualties. Despite Russia’s denials of targeting civilians, reports and evidence of airstrikes on residential areas have drawn international condemnation.
Ukraine has responded by bolstering its defense capabilities with substantial support from Western allies. However, the scale and intensity of Russian assaults have underscored the need for more advanced and long-range defense systems.
Marking the 1,000th day of the conflict on November 19, 2023, the United Nations urged the global community to maintain solidarity with Ukraine. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, shared staggering statistics highlighting the war’s toll:
- Over 39,000 civilians killed or injured.
- More than 3,400 schools and hospitals damaged or destroyed.
- 10 million people displaced from their homes.
Schmale also reported that since February 2024, civilian infrastructure has faced relentless attacks, including over 2,000 assaults on healthcare facilities and damage to 2 million homes. Additionally, 65% of Ukraine’s energy production capacity has been destroyed.
The UN estimates that in 2024, 14.6 million Ukrainians—nearly 40% of the country’s population—will require humanitarian assistance.
As Ukraine continues its defense and recovery efforts, President Zelenskyy remains committed to reuniting Ukrainians with their families and restoring peace to the nation.