Russia and Ukraine Conduct One of Largest Prisoner Swaps of the War

On Wednesday, Russia and Ukraine announced that they had each released 175 prisoners in what is being described as one of the largest prisoner exchanges since Russia launched its full-scale invasion three years ago.

reportedly On Tuesday, Ukraine’s president emphasized that freeing all prisoners of war and detained civilians would be a crucial move toward establishing peace and rebuilding trust between Ukraine and Russia. He once again urged both sides to commit to a comprehensive “all-for-all” exchange of captives.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the release of 22 severely wounded Ukrainian captives, describing the move as a “goodwill gesture.” According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, their return was arranged through a separate negotiation channel. Initially, Russian President Vladimir Putin had pledged to release 23 prisoners during a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a possible partial ceasefire. No explanation was given for the reduction in the number of released individuals.

Prisoner swaps have been a recurring feature throughout the ongoing conflict, and officials confirmed that Wednesday’s large-scale exchange had been in the works well before President Trump’s recent call with Vladimir Putin. Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs, highlighted the complexity of such operations, stressing that exchanges are the result of months of meticulous planning rather than spontaneous decisions. He noted that the previous swap occurred on February 5 and that preparations for the latest exchange had been ongoing since then. According to official figures, over 4,000 Ukrainian captives both military personnel and civilians, including some foreign nationals have been released since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.