Ninety Russian servicemen released following a prisoner swap with Ukraine arrived at Chkalovsky airfield in Moscow on Wednesday.
Footage shows the men disembarking from the plane after landing and boarding buses for their return home.
"Mum cried at first, then calmed down. My sisters too, cousins, second cousins. I managed to call everyone," said one of the servicemen, Vladimir.
Meanwhile another serviceman, Dmitri, said that he felt 'like it’s not real'.
"In a day or two maybe, I'll recover and sort out my emotions," he added.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that 90 Russian servicemen were returned from 'Kiev-controlled territory' while 90 Ukrainian soldiers were handed over to Kiev, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
The ministry added that the released captives will receive medical and psychological care following their return.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that the exchange had taken place: "90 more of our people have returned home to Ukraine from Russian captivity today," he said.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Mum cried at first' - Released Russian servicemen return home following prisoner swap
Ninety Russian servicemen released following a prisoner swap with Ukraine arrived at Chkalovsky airfield in Moscow on Wednesday.
Footage shows the men disembarking from the plane after landing and boarding buses for their return home.
"Mum cried at first, then calmed down. My sisters too, cousins, second cousins. I managed to call everyone," said one of the servicemen, Vladimir.
Meanwhile another serviceman, Dmitri, said that he felt 'like it’s not real'.
"In a day or two maybe, I'll recover and sort out my emotions," he added.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that 90 Russian servicemen were returned from 'Kiev-controlled territory' while 90 Ukrainian soldiers were handed over to Kiev, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
The ministry added that the released captives will receive medical and psychological care following their return.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that the exchange had taken place: "90 more of our people have returned home to Ukraine from Russian captivity today," he said.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Ninety Russian servicemen released following a prisoner swap with Ukraine arrived at Chkalovsky airfield in Moscow on Wednesday.
Footage shows the men disembarking from the plane after landing and boarding buses for their return home.
"Mum cried at first, then calmed down. My sisters too, cousins, second cousins. I managed to call everyone," said one of the servicemen, Vladimir.
Meanwhile another serviceman, Dmitri, said that he felt 'like it’s not real'.
"In a day or two maybe, I'll recover and sort out my emotions," he added.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that 90 Russian servicemen were returned from 'Kiev-controlled territory' while 90 Ukrainian soldiers were handed over to Kiev, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
The ministry added that the released captives will receive medical and psychological care following their return.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that the exchange had taken place: "90 more of our people have returned home to Ukraine from Russian captivity today," he said.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.