Ukraine and Russia Complete Major Prisoner Swap, Exchange 205 POWs Each

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Kyiv: Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 205 prisoners of war each, officials confirmed on Friday, marking the first phase of a larger US-brokered deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that most of the Ukrainian soldiers released had been held in Russian captivity since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy said the exchange is part of a planned “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner swap, with further releases expected in the coming phases. He shared images of freed Ukrainian soldiers wrapped in national flags as they reunited with families.

The released personnel include troops who fought in the battle for the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and others involved in defending the Chernobyl area during the early days of the war.

Russia’s defence ministry confirmed that 205 Russian servicemen were returned, saying they were transferred via Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological support.

The ministry also said the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian assistance during the transfer of Russian prisoners.

The exchange follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump of a broader ceasefire-linked agreement aimed at facilitating a large-scale prisoner swap between the two countries.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, both sides continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire understandings, with Ukraine reporting intensified Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in recent days.

The prisoner exchanges remain one of the few tangible outcomes of recent US-led mediation efforts to end the ongoing war.