Russia, Ukraine Swap Hundreds of Prisoners in Major War Exchange

Kyiv: In one of the largest prisoner exchanges of the ongoing war, Russia and Ukraine confirmed on Wednesday that they had each released 175 prisoners. Among those freed were severely wounded soldiers and fighters who had been prosecuted by Russia on fabricated charges, as reported by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“We are bringing back soldiers, sergeants, and officers — warriors who fought for our freedom in the ranks of the Armed Forces, the Navy, the National Guard, the Territorial Defence Forces, and the Border Guard Service,” Zelenskyy said in a statement, highlighting the importance of this exchange for the Ukrainian forces.

A Gesture of Goodwill

Russia's Defence Ministry also confirmed the release of an additional 22 severely wounded Ukrainian captives, calling it a goodwill gesture. According to Zelenskyy, these individuals were returned through a separate negotiation process. Interestingly, there was no immediate explanation for why one fewer prisoner—compared to the 23 wounded POWs that Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised to release after his conversation with US President Donald Trump—was included in the exchange.

The prisoner exchange had already been planned prior to that call, underlining the ongoing diplomatic efforts behind the scenes.

Released Prisoners from Key Battlefronts

The Ukrainian soldiers who were freed had been captured while defending some of the most critical regions in Ukraine during the conflict. These areas included Mariupol, the Azovstal steel plant, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kursk.

Zelenskyy further assured that the released prisoners would receive immediate medical and psychological assistance. He expressed profound gratitude to the Ukrainian team involved in the prisoner swap and also thanked international partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, for facilitating the exchange.

Zelenskyy’s Commitment to Bringing All Heroes Home

In his statement, Zelenskyy emphasized, "Ukraine remembers each of its heroes, and we will bring everyone home." This latest exchange underscores Ukraine's ongoing efforts to bring its soldiers and fighters back from captivity, as part of the broader strategy to manage the humanitarian consequences of the war.

The release of these prisoners marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict, reflecting both the human cost of the war and the continuing efforts to negotiate the return of those who have fought for Ukraine's freedom.