Ukraine returns 160 military personnel, faces new Russian air attacks

Ukraine announced the return of 160 military personnel from Russian captivity, including Mariupol defenders, as Russian forces launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks. Ukraine's General Staff updated Russian loss figures.
Ukrainian authorities announced the return of 160 military personnel from Russian captivity in a recent exchange. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that all freed soldiers had been held since 2022, with 115 defenders of Mariupol among them. The ages of those released ranged from 26 to 66. Russia's Ministry of Defense also reported the exchange. Separately, Russian forces launched seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Bryansk and Kursk regions, alongside 189 uncrewed aerial vehicles, targeting Ukraine overnight into June 26. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 177 targets, though four missiles and eleven drones impacted locations in the Kyiv and Poltava regions. Ukraine's General Staff updated figures for Russian military personnel losses to over 1.39 million since the full-scale invasion began. Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда
How outlets assessed this
- Українська правда Neutral Its headline incorrectly stated freed soldiers were held for four years, contradicting its own body text.
Sources
Earlier coverage
- Jun 26, 2026, 04:00 PM UTCUkraine returns 160 military personnel, Russia launches new attacks
- Jun 26, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCUkraine exchanges 160 soldiers, reports Russian attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCUkraine returns 160 soldiers, reports new Russian attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 02:30 PM UTCUkraine returns 160 military personnel, reports new Russian attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCUkraine returns 160 military personnel, reports Russian attacks and losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 01:00 PM UTCUkraine repatriates 160 soldiers, reports missile and drone strikes, updates Russian losses
- Jun 26, 2026, 12:30 PM UTCUkraine returns 160 military personnel in prisoner exchange
- Jun 26, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCRussian forces launch extensive aerial assault on Ukraine; Iran attacks commercial vessel
- Jun 26, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCRussia continues aerial attacks, strikes Odesa infrastructure; Iran attacks vessel
- Jun 26, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCRussian forces continue aerial attacks on Ukraine, Iran reportedly strikes vessel