'The happiest day': 49 Ukrainian prisoners of war return to their homeland - Video

Bugay was captured during the siege of Mariupol, a southern Ukrainian city that was surrounded and devastated by Russian forces. The siege, which lasted from February to May 2022, ended with the surrender of over 2,000 fighters, including Bugay.

Bugay was among 49 Ukrainians, including 23 women, who were freed in a recent prisoner swap. This marked the first time in over a year that Azov fighters, who defended the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, were included in such exchanges. The Azov Brigade has often been used as a bargaining chip by Russia due to its controversial reputation.

After their release, the group held up banners and sang Ukraine's national anthem, tears and laughter mingling as they were transported by bus to a hospital in northern Ukraine for checkups.

The Kremlin has frequently accused the Azov Brigade of neo-Nazism, which the brigade denies, complicating negotiations. Andriy Yusov, a representative for the Ukrainian government body coordinating exchanges, confirmed that efforts to secure the return of all soldiers continue, with work already underway on the next exchange.