Adik the dog stolen by Russian soldiers returned in prisoner exchange 

A dog stolen by Russian soldiers and given to Chechen leader Kadyrov as a ‘trophy’ has finally been freed and returned to a Ukrainian servicewoman in a New Year prisoner exchange.

American Pit Bull Terrier Adik was taken from a Ukrainian servicewoman in June and reportedly gifted to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov as a ‘trophy’.

But Adik has now returned to Ukraine, as part of a New Year prisoner swap in which 140 Ukrainian soldiers were freed from Russia. 

Adik was taken prisoner from Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, alongside his owner and defenders of Mariupol. 

American Pit Bull Terrier Adik was taken from a Ukrainian servicewoman at Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in June 

Adik has now returned to Ukraine, as part of a New Year prisoner swap in which 140 Ukrainian soldiers were freed from Russia

He was handed to the special services before volunteer Yuriy Kovanov gifted him to Kadyrov, who renamed him Adidas.

A tweet with a picture of Adik read: ‘Ukraine needs everyone! A pit bull terrier, who was defending Mariupol together with our soldiers, was released from RuZZsian captivity!’

More than 200 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers were freed in the prisoner swap, which took place at undisclosed locations.  

Footage captured the relief on the Ukrainian soldiers’ faces as they celebrated their freedom with one another. 

Russia’s Defence Ministry announced today that a total of 82 Russian soldiers had been released by Ukraine.

Adik was taken prisoner from Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, alongside his owner and defenders of Mariupol.

A tweet with a picture of Adik read: ‘Ukraine needs everyone! A pit bull terrier, who was defending Mariupol together with our soldiers, was released from RuZZsian captivity!

Akin was handed to the special services before volunteer Yuriy Kovanov gifted him to Ramzan Kadyrov (left) as a ‘trophy’

In return, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Russia had handed over 140 Ukrainian service personnel.

Some of the freed Ukrainian soldiers – 132 men and eight women – had fought to defend the Black Sea port city of Mariupol and on Snake Island, according to Telegram channel Yermak. Many of them had been wounded in the conflict.

The two sides have exchanged hundreds of captured soldiers in several rounds of prisoner exchanges in recent months, despite a complete breakdown in broader diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv. 

The Ukrainian military personnel draped in their military fatigues poured out of a series of buses at the undisclosed location on Saturday.

The now free soldiers hugged loved ones as they were released as prisoners of war today

The soldiers shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ as they stepped off the busses and into freedom as many of them raised their hands in the air in celebration.

Smiles beamed across their faces as they met loved ones and Ukrainian officials who provided them with white carrier bags that appeared to contain essential supplies and documentation.

They then lined up to pose for a photo holding a series of Ukrainian flags. Again, they shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine!, applauding and cheering with one another.