Ukraine repatriates 160 soldiers; Russia launches air attacks and Ukraine updates losses

Ukraine successfully repatriated 160 military personnel in the 76th prisoner exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. Russian forces launched seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 189 uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Ukraine successfully repatriated 160 military personnel in the 76th prisoner exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. All individuals had been held since 2022, with 115 identified as defenders of Mariupol, aged between 26 and 66. The Russian Ministry of Defense also acknowledged the exchange. One report stated the soldiers had been held for four years, contrasting with other accounts indicating captivity since 2022. Separately, Russian forces launched seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 189 uncrewed aerial vehicles towards the Kyiv and Poltava regions overnight on June 25-26. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 177 targets, including three ballistic missiles and 174 drones, but four missiles and eleven drones struck various sites. Ukraine's General Staff updated its assessment of Russian military personnel losses to 1,398,370 since the full-scale invasion, with 1,310 reported in the preceding 24 hours. Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда
How outlets assessed this
- Українська правда Neutral Its headline stated repatriated personnel were held for four years, while the article body confirmed since 2022.
- Радіо Свобода Neutral Reported the exchange, consistently stating all personnel were held since 2022.
- Українська правда Neutral Reported 160 Ukrainian fighters were returned after four years in Russian captivity.
- Радіо Свобода Neutral Stated 160 Ukrainian military personnel were returned, all held since 2022.
Sources
Earlier coverage
- Jun 26, 2026, 11:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel amid conflicting reports on captivity duration
- Jun 26, 2026, 10:00 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 soldiers, reports on Russian attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 09:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel, reports Russian air attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel, intercepts Russian missiles and drones
- Jun 26, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel; Russia launches missiles and drones
- Jun 26, 2026, 07:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel, Russia launches overnight strikes
- Jun 26, 2026, 07:00 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel, Russia launches missile and drone attacks
- Jun 26, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel; Russia launches air attacks
- Jun 26, 2026, 06:00 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel amid ongoing Russian attacks
- Jun 26, 2026, 05:30 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 military personnel, Russia launches new attacks