Released Ukrainian soldiers learn of Kursk invasion for the first time in major prisoner swap

Footage has emerged of some of the Ukrainian soldiers freed in a major prisoner swap with Russia reacting with excitement and disbelief as they learn about the latest developments in the war.
Some of the POWs were captured in the early days of the invasion and have had little access to information about how the conflict was developing, according to Belarusian opposition outlet Nexta, which shared the video.
Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into the southern border region of Kursk last month, capturing around 500 square miles of Russian territory , which it is mostly still holding, although Russia claims to have recaptured some settlements in recent days.
Other photos and videos shared online show the released Ukrainians taking selfies, posing with flags and embracing their fellow servicemen.
Read more here: www.telegraph....
#ukraine #russia #kursk

[@FreeThoughtCrime]

Imagine being captured in the first days of the war and spending the last two years being told that your country has been conquered and no longer exists only to find out that not only is your country still in the fight but is on the offensive.

[@nickdancuo9512]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sanelamarinkovic8876]

Then losing all of its gained territory and own territory...

[@solomonblack6344]

Like day dreaming. The hell they were captured in is just a piece compared to the hell that is facing their fighting comrades

[@Rifin-pu2hb]

@@sanelamarinkovic8876 Meh, Russia counter offensive got stalled, it would probably be another 6 months before Russia could retake all of Kursk, *IF* there is no suprise...

[@raduradu334]

Imagine Russia occupied 3 whole regions,Dunbass,Harkov,Donetk😂 they dont care about 50 villages in Kursk

[@danieldj9194]

An unnecessary war started by a evil dictator.

[@StanleyPinchak]

Damn Victoria Nudelman

[@Ninemilli_007]

Yeah by the usa and their weird tactics! Joe biden doesn’t make calls its the cia

[@nickdancuo9512]

Zelensky and Biden

[@aaergplay6022]

​@@nickdancuo9512 , weird way to say/write "putin".

[@dmytroi5456]

Weird way to say "russians"

[@TETPochatok]

Its difficult to watch how mistreated our solders are((😢 they are so skinny and exhausted 😢

[@adifferentangle7064]

Seriously? THAT was difficult? the youngest looked fifty. They make Dad's Army look spritely.😂

[@rico-228]

​@@adifferentangle7064atleast they joined by their freedom

[@johnlenin830]

Do Russian soldiers look better after Ukrainian captivity?

[@FlyingPanda150]

@@johnlenin830 yeah, they are fat and well fed

[@МаксимПачесюк]

@@johnlenin830 they do. Just google it.

[@esraeloh8681]

Man hahahaha look at the change in the look in his eyes as he's told that, what a bloody feeling that must've been after what they went through & how long it's been

[@julianjdogg]

Yes it's nice, but Bakhmut and Avdiivka were lost, and the enemy is on the doorstep of Pokrovsk.

[@AS-np3yq]

Small cities..

[@uniquehedghog]

wait for the look in his eyes when he is asked to go back in the trenches LOL

[@AliShuktu]

​@@julianjdogg In Bakhmut - Wagner group were decimated. In Avdiivka region 1500 military vehicles were lost by russian army. Result: occupation of Kursk region.

[@melhiorlector2680]

​@@AliShuktu это тебе по твоему телевизору сказали?? 😂

[@nikiTricoteuse]

I'm always so happy to see Ukrainians coming home but, their obvious mistreatment by the russians breaks my heart.

[@ЛюдмилаСевастополь-ы4у]

Какое жестокое?! Чушь полная....

[@ЛюдмилаСевастополь-ы4у]

Твое сердце не разбивают могилы детей с Донбасса? Лицемерие какое...

[@skankhunt420]

​@@ЛюдмилаСевастополь-ы4у lies over lies over lies, we don't care about those lies. Keep telling them yourself to believe all this nonsense

[@schloops8473]

14 years of war putin has imposed on the people of Donbas and the zwastikas still dare to come with their lies...

[@NorweigeinBall]

@@skankhunt420 Buddy what? maybe learn what happened 10 years ago in Ukraine.

[@simontemplar.8668]

They should show THAT instead of pro-russian propaganda on German TV! It would help people understand the facts.

[@TuskForce]

Germany is under Russian influence if we consider the propaganda

[@aaaaaa2206]

This is also war propaganda. Every major news outlet spread either pro Russian or pro Ukrainian war propaganda. Small warmapper channels provide more objective information about the conflict much faster then the legacy media.

[@aaroncruz9181]

More like under the influence of Russian fuel.

[@TuskForce]

@@aaroncruz9181 nope not just that Many people here think Russia can save us from "wokeness" (whatever that means) Those people should definitely go to Ukraine and talk to families who lost their loved ones in war

[@Stevekpb]

@@TuskForce While they completely ignore that its the Russians throwing fuel on the fire of that culture war to blow it way out proportion.

[@EastBayE]

So nice to see these heroes return home. I hope they share their stories with the world to remind us of their bravery and the horror of Russian aggression to remind us all why this fight is so important. Prayers out to all their comrades who remain in captivity

[@nickdancuo9512]

Another yank loud mouth coward

[@Оаладвтуи]

Желаю вам испытать то, что эти герои сделали с другими людьми 👍

[@rexkramer1222]

Welcome back,love from Bonnie Scotland

[@VictorBonello]

They came back alive, they shall be returned to the trenches, who knows who of these shall survive?

[@MarkVergizov]

​@VictorBonello , oh yeah, an "information" came out of nowhere. How we love it!😊 The law N°10449 provides for demobilization for those Ukrainian soldiers who were liberated from russian caption, and they CAN, but NOT obliged to return to the trenches. Voilà

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@VictorBonello Google or Alexa?

[@giveusanesirbobholness7199]

​@@VictorBonelloyep, whilst all the well off Ukrainians go on holiday and don't really get involved including the klitschko brothers. I bet they haven't fired a shot.😂..zelensky will be tending to his grapes in Italy as we speak.

[@P00009]

​@@MarkVergizovOne thing remained: Follow the law in lawless country.

[@brianraymen3085]

Welcome home boys reunite with your familys now. best wishes UK

[@masterlightjames950]

Those are grandfathers, not boys. Ukraine is out of boys.

[@craigrothwell6144]

They will be reuniting in the U.K.

[@m_c_squared]

Welcome from islamic UK.. lol, U should b more worried about ur own country

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@m_c_squared Spot on.

[@Notrusbot]

when will the capital be renamed al-londoni?

[@davidpayne3938]

Stay strong Ukraine your not only fighting for your freedom but the freedom of the whole of Europe and Britain..❤

[@Rzock2803]

And NATO too😪

[@anairanzu1]

For USA

[@u2beuser714]

Freedom to be imprisoned for mean tweets.

[@IsntTheInternetGreat]

​@@anairanzu1Blah blah, Ivan

[@cpeyo6250]

Welcome home 🇺🇦

[@bieber_and_dolik]

Did he he learn about what's happening in the east? And the recent russian counter offensive in kursk in which they liberated more then 10 towns and still advancing.

[@Pikkabuu]

@@bieber_and_dolik No such counter offensive has been made. What really happened is that Russia has advanced a bit and captured one town.

[@deanjackson2125]

Thank Putin for negotiation..

[@ludwig7691]

​@@Pikkabuuit's not just one town. Stop watching Denys bro. Visit Suriyak map lol

[@SmashPhysical]

If the Russian prisoners were ones that had just been captured in the Kursk region, it seems like Ukraine got the better of that deal in terms of regaining better trained soldiers.

[@rafflesmaos]

In theory yes, in practice no. The Ukrainian POWs in russian captivity don't have oversight from international orgs like red cross, and are subjected to very harsh treatment, including starvation. So most of these soldiers will have months if not years of rehabilitation, and there were some cases where they passed away from ailments acquired during their incarceration inside russia.

[@listrahtes]

@@rafflesmaos Sadly yes and no one in state media talks about that. We have political parties supporting Russia and they dont touch that topic at all. The systematic torture of prisoners and killing of them.

[@StanleyPinchak]

​@@rafflesmaosproof or it didn't happen. I heard the Iraqi kills babies in incubators, too.

[@nickdancuo9512]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@crocolagerfelden6142]

Priceless. Slava Ukraini!

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@YaBoiAlex]

bot🤣

[@Bob94390]

I now feel quite well that it is possible to beat putler and trump!

[@jimstan1795]

Dont forget your Hitler SALUTE.😂. JOSEPH GOEBBELS WOULD BE PROUD OF UKRAINES PROPAGANDA.😂.

[@mlund9301]

@@Bob94390your feeling is wrong 😅

[@alex.velasco]

Welcome home! Slava Ukraini!

[@snowdogthewolf]

Meanwhile, the released Russian POWs likely received no fanfare and were sent directly back into the meatgrinder. I'd imagine most Russian POWs didn't want to be exchanged for that very reason.

[@KreshPlays]

Source: trust me bro

[@rick7424]

​​​@@KreshPlays That is why they said "look like". Their expression is not a happy one. Try arguing with their actual point rather than some poor interpretation of their words.

[@sph1988]

At the very least, going home to ALOT of insults for surrendering, and likely placed in penal battalions as punishment.

[@Silver_Prussian]

Thats the case for ukrianian pow returning home not russian ones.

[@Zenon00007]

❤Ukrainians ❤

[@ianbalogh8492]

Compare the state of the Ukrainian prisoners to the Russian prisoners, Russia obviously doesn't treat prisoners as well as Ukraine does.

[@DruggedBunny]

Слава Україні from Scotland.

[@rous914]

Scots are similar to Ukrainians. They think that they are something special, but in fact England owns them…

[@64much]

Des soldats au moral incassable. Les ruSSes n'ont pas fini d'avoir des problèmes...

[@mudrac1969]

😂😂😂😂

[@ReikerForge]

c'est facile d'être incassable quand ils étais sûr en prison pour deux ans pendant que tous leurs camarades se sont faites tués, ils savent pas comment de l'ukraine as été perdu nonplus

[@aaroncruz9181]

And they didn't stop solving them either.

[@lf6756]

Bien sûr bien sûr... La Russie prend cher depuis deux ans et demi... Vous oubliez que l'ukraine est un petit pays et que la Russie est soit-disant la seconde armée du monde la plus puissante... ​@@ReikerForge

[@kirikoo9981]

​@@lf6756Ukraine in petit pays, compare l'ukraine a ton pays pour voir. L'ukraine plus 52 autres pays sont en guerre contre la Russie depuis deux ans, quel resultat Mon frere.?

[@MrMacavity]

Notice how the Russians do not seem too happy about being released back home. Bless Ukraine 👍❤

[@mariarucci78]

True

[@craigrothwell6144]

They are not happy about being caught.

[@Zasibys]

@@craigrothwell6144 oh look ruzky bot

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@Zasibys Oh yeah :)

[@FoulPet]

​@craigrothwell6144 were Ukrainians happy about being caught?

[@east_coast_ceo1070]

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@rd5107]

Slava Ukraine.

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@КонстантинЦзю-н9у]

Точно, в срало окраине.

[@bebrogitler]

​@@user-McGiver Geroyam Slava*

[@edzehoo]

"Slava Ukraini" is the right spelling

[@КонстантинЦзю-н9у]

@@user-McGiver Дуппаслав херой урины))

[@jberkeley1195]

👏👏💪✊👍 Slava ukraini 🔱💪🇺🇦🇨🇵🇵🇱🇬🇧🇪🇺✌️

[@screamboy8]

Heroyam Slava !

[@Teacher2Polis2XtraRice]

Welcome home. Greetings from Philippines

[@jeanmay-millman4124]

SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@user-uh1ty3vl2v]

Божого вам Благословіння на довге щасливе життя! Слава Богу! Мир Україні! Смерть ворогам!

[@Wintage1073]

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@genripper-b8q]

ruski fellas didn't look very relieved to be going back

[@kirinrn]

Rus bloggers already reporting that ruskis are sent directly back to the front. At least now they know to tell their comrades that it's pretty good option to surrender instead of fighting.

[@ChobeVelyasha]

​@@kirinrnIsnt it ukranian soldiers?I pretty much sure all that guys sent to front,considering ukranian man shortage and draft with beating people and dragging them to van Russia,on another hand,doesnt have mobilisation since like december 2023.All it soldiers are paid for contract

[@NigoMavarro]

Going back? Yes they are going back to tha Battlefield haha hemce they look sad

[@pR0ManiacS]

​@@ChobeVelyasha " paid " missing in action doesn't get paid.

[@ChobeVelyasha]

@@pR0ManiacS Isnt it ukranian problem?I heard from ukranian bloggers many ukies are made MIA and then commander recueves all the money for them

[@DrDisrespectThatAgeGap]

Welcome home lads

[@normal_side]

Slava Ukraine ✌👍👋❤🇳🇬🇺🇦

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@Дмитрий_Авторские_песни_каверы]

За что слава?

[@Дмитрий_Авторские_песни_каверы]

​Хероямсала

[@Reticulosis]

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦!!!!!

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@DennisLiewDennis]

Welcome back, Slava Ukraini!

[@kantemirovskaya1lightninga30]

Beautiful video. and yes, the difference in the obvious physical mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners as opposed to the good health of the russian prisoners makes very clear who the humans are in this fight

[@augustaj3952]

Slava Ukraini 💙💛✌️🇺🇦

[@Sy-wm9wq]

Stop the war

[@arianbloodborn9813]

Stop pootin

[@avrorazukr]

Ласкаво просимо додому!❤🙏🇺🇦

[@AndyKara]

🇺🇦💙💛Slava Ukraini 🫡💯✌️🏆🇦🇺

[@melodyg4727]

It is a bittersweet moment. So happy to see them home, devastated to see them looking as gaunt and traumatized as a concentration camp survivor... 😢

[@letsnottalkaboutname8719]

Slava ukraine.

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@shawnadams1460]

Slava Ukraini!! Welcome home fellas!

[@luiscordovadsgn]

Slava Ukraine!!!!

[@user-McGiver]

HEROYAM SLAVA...!

[@richard17329]

Real humans VS Russian bots. See the difference

[@MrSzwarz]

Slava Ukrainie! 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 Heroyam Slava !

[@stevenovetsky3274]

💙💛

[@TheLiteraryGroupie]

Heroes! Slava Ukraini!

[@zhenthewei]

"Just tell mom im back"

[@johncromwell2529]

👏🙏🇺🇦👍💪🇺🇸❤️

[@hastekulvaati9681]

The Russian prisoners look in much better shape and much less happy to be going home.

[@bikechainmic]

Slava Ukraine

[@qvaerensveritatem9064]

Welcome home boys.

[@Carlos31416]

Vive les héros ! 🎉❤

[@lodjaboy]

Heroyam slava. 🇺🇦

[@G-Man-half-life]

Ukraine 🇺🇦 should really have went for Moscow instead of Kursk but I guess the city of Kursk will have to do for now… the Russian 🇷🇺 population brought this upon themselves when they started an unprovoked war with Ukraine.

[@hehehehaw3521]

What? They're nowhere near the city of kursk.

[@ReikerForge]

Lmao 12 people agreeing with this is why false news spreads so easily. They're in kursk _oblast_ (barely), not kursk city. Anyone who would take 5 seconds to look at a map could become 100x more educated on this conflict within minutes.

[@2hoon162]

Bro thinks all of kursk got captured 😂 and what city? Don't say sudzha because that's a town.

[@japmd17]

Unprovoked. Yeah right.

[@WilhelmKönigII]

@@japmd17Yes. Unprovoked.

[@kleinesbiest1264]

It’s heartbreaking to see old men fighting in war, they would be hugging grandchildren if it’s not this bloody special military operation.

[@TheBooban]

Not many prisoners in this war as a ratio of KIA.

[@randomdude5187]

Are they aware of the counter offensive in Kursk, capture of Avdiivka, Pokrovsk offensive?

[@haraffael7821]

Counteroffensive in Kursk barely is a focus for Russia, because they know if the Donbass situation gets worse for Ukraine, they will retreat without a proper fight in Kursk 😅

[@jask7908]

Welcome back 💐🍀 - 🇨🇦

[@Komariaazzzz]

These happy Ukrainian didnt know they are going back to the front lines🫣

[@Zasibys]

Not for a while, they'll get a chance to recover and be mentally prepared unlike RuZZians who will be throwned to trenches once they come back, Ruzzian gov don't care about their mental health. Once a slave to putin always slave to putin, putin owns their souls welcome to RabZZia

[@ИваннаВасильева-д4ш]

Every Ukrainian soldier who returns from Russian captivity can decide for himself whether to continue fighting or leave the army

[@Leszczuk23]

Ok vatnik

[@marktsvetanov6038]

@@ИваннаВасильева-д4ш please read about Ukraine’s law 😂

[@themeiafy]

​@@marktsvetanov6038 Yes, that's what Ukraine's law says

[@7secularsermons]

I watch this whenever I need a hug.

[@Abamaine]

I wonder if they will be send back out again to the front line, how does this usually goes in real life ?

[@shaneb315]

They are soldiers still . Unless unfit for service , once recovered most of these men will return to defending their homeland from the occupier .

[@ByZHellas]

Definitely, they’re already struggling to mobilize people, they’ll have to send the POWs back to fill the lines that are undermanned. I’m sure this happens on both sides though

[@magpiegirl3783]

Some may willing,y go on to fight. Depending on their treatment in Russia they may need rehab.

[@user-kg2jw3we6b]

Ukrainian prisoners have a choice if they want to return or retire

[@deelight3469]

Now tell him about the 10000+ men they’ve lost in the process : /

[@freepalestinefromcroatia9065]

Slava ukrajini

[@Mooncake69420]

Ill be honest. They look kinda malnutritioned. What did they do to them?

[@FoulPet]

Russian soldiers seemed less happy to be going back.

[@vincentcristiano8330]

Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦 SLAVA UKRAYINI 🥇🇺🇦💪🏻

[@launcelotlake]

Welcome home!

[@andrewhorsfall317]

Glory to Ukraine. She will be free.

[@m_c_squared]

Lol not a chance, zelensky has insured ukraine will loose a huge part of d country loosing 1 million Ukrainians along d way 😂

[@AS-np3yq]

@m_c_squared Zelensky is not the inventor of thid war. Ukrainians are fighting this war for over 300 years.

[@Raven-my6lp]

slava ukraini 🤡

[@tenaciousdean]

Slava Ukraini, Heroyam Slava 🇺🇸

[@elbabeolchi1754]

Is well know that mental health , the traumas of soldiers , in any war affect them for ever

[@AlanSmith88888]

Pretty scary how they make them shave their heads. Much like what happened in WWII all those years ago...

[@moskaliakunagiliaku2499]

Курськ, Вороніж, Белгород, Брянськ, Ростов це все Україна.

[@ChobeVelyasha]

Ну говорить можно конечно много чего

[@moskaliakunagiliaku2499]

​@@ChobeVelyashaВідкрий карту УНР москалику.

[@watDfacts]

These guys will not go back to the frontline...

[@bismarck6497]

Das kursk arbenteur kostet der Ukraine wert volle Reserven

[@UniversalAwareness101]

Slava Ukraini💙💛

[@peterdebrie]

I wonder if the released soldiers sign a contract not to take part in the war after their release?

[@giancarlo333]

They are in poor condition of health; but I am happy that they will be united with their families soon. - sending love from the Philippines. Keep fighting Ukraine! 💪🏻

[@Redpilled66]

Well.... not exactly. In an interview in the Kyiv Independent on the 2nd September, General Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces of Ukraine announced that the Kursk offensive has failed and that there's now a two month window for an operational tactical withdrawal back toward the Ukrainian border.

[@centurion262]

If that's the case why are they still advancing into Russian territory?

[@blt4life112]

They're so thin and pale. This needs to be pointed out by the media.

[@StanleyPinchak]

They are Ukrainians. This is their natural state.

[@alcamac]

The released Ukrainian prisoners appear to have escaped from a concentration camp.

[@terrified057t4]

The Ukrainians are young and old, while the Russians are all young.

[@JCchadcel]

SLAVA UKRAINE

[@reecom9884]

The Russian exchange prisoners were newly surrendered conscripts in the Kursk invasion. The Russian conscripts were reportedly sent back to their bases to be issued weapons and sent to the Kursk frontlines. By Russian law, conscripts cannot fight in Ukraine and can only fight on Russian soil.

[@arthurchonyera7031]

Where is their families---they are right back at the front; They don't look happy at all

[@StanleyPinchak]

Too bad. They were safe from the punisher batallions in Russia😢

[@maryrose2676]

Dang. Everyone's so scrawny.

[@aaroncruz9181]

They have no idea.

[@tayler2396]

Slava Ukraini

[@cordellmohawk8408]

They well be sent there and find out the situation not good

[@oyebode4373]

😂😂😂😂

[@cordellmohawk8408]

@@oyebode4373 😂

[@fantomas4935]

Yeah? What does russian state media say, how many times have they been pushed out now? What's it up to? I lost count. Has to be like 15 times now.

[@cordellmohawk8408]

@@fantomas4935 IDK I don't have Russia media lol

[@PianoGamer64]

All the Russians that got sent certainly got a surprise😂

[@M85Iroc]

I wonder how long before both sides send them back to the front lines. It's sad, but true.

[@wiseman7779]

They look like they were drafted from the nursing home 😂😂😂

[@m_c_squared]

Tell him that at d same time ukraine stretched it's army and is now going to loose a strategically important city in donbass,

[@Frank50505]

Slava Ukraini!

[@frankrenda2519]

poor ukraine their getting decimated

[@GSuii]

They look 50. Bodes poorly for the war effort.

[@UtilityCurve]

Do the returning Ukrainians look a little ... thin ... to anyone else?

[@masterlightjames950]

They look better than they were when they were in Ukraine.

[@mariarucci78]

@@masterlightjames950I don’t think so

[@greenarmy1982]

and they will be send back again. n again

[@2020sII]

just like the Russians

[@ИваннаВасильева-д4ш]

No. Every Ukrainian soldier who returns from Russian captivity can decide for himself whether to continue fighting or leave the army

[@JonSmith-wg8mr]

Liar

[@greenarmy1982]

@@JonSmith-wg8mr and what is your problem?

[@antoninagarkalna1444]

Forbes estimated the number of participants in the attack on the Kursk region at 15-20 thousand soldiers. As of today, 16,800 have been destroyed. There is a big difference - from January to July, the Russian army took full control of 1175 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, counting those zones in the Donetsk region where the Russians were piercing Ukrainian fortifications, and the areas captured as a result of the reoffensive in Kharkov region. This is clearly more than the current success of AFU in the Kursk region. AFU just scattered its landing force across 1000 km, and this figure is being questioned. ISW analysts have refuted Syrsky’s words about the area of the territory of the Kursk region controlled by the AFU. Statements of the AFU chief about that they control 1000 square kilometers of territory of the Kursk region are not true. This is the conclusion reached by analysts of the American Institute for War Studies. In their opinion, Kiev is deliberately exaggerating the extent of its territorial conquests. ISW has seen statements that Ukrainian forces have advanced about 800 square kilometers, but ISW does not believe that the Ukrainian forces control the entire territory within the maximum declared advances of Ukraine.

[@Pikkabuu]

And your evidence of this is...

[@146-IQ]

Слава Україні! Героям слава! 🇺🇦

[@mariadorosariodaraujofaria7705]

Heroyam Slava 🇺🇦