Russia and Ukraine Swap 205 POWs Before Victory Day Ceasefire
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war each on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The swap was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, which has played a mediating role in several previous exchanges.
The Russian servicemen were flown to Belarus, where they are currently receiving medical care and psychological support before being returned to their units or families. Ukraine has confirmed the return of its own personnel but did not issue further details.
Part of a Series of Ongoing Exchanges
Despite the continuing war, prisoner swaps have emerged as one of the few sustained lines of cooperation between the two sides. These exchanges have occurred regularly, with the previous one reported on April 15, when 246 prisoners were exchanged.
Over the past year, dozens of such swaps have been conducted, sometimes quietly, with the involvement of neutral countries including Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar. Humanitarian actors have stressed the importance of these arrangements for morale and legal compliance under international humanitarian law.
Ceasefires Marked by Repeated Violations
Tuesday's exchange comes just ahead of Russia’s unilateral three-day ceasefire, scheduled to coincide with the 80th Victory Day commemorations from May 8 to May 10. However, Ukraine has refused to reciprocate, citing previous patterns of ceasefire violations by Moscow.
Observers note that temporary truces in the Ukraine conflict have historically been marred by violations on both sides, often within hours of taking effect. Most recently, a Russian-declared Easter truce in April was reportedly breached thousands of times, according to Russia's own defense ministry. Nonetheless, some military activity reportedly declined during the pause.
Rising Political Tensions Ahead of Victory Day
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has warned foreign dignitaries attending the May 9 military parade in Moscowthat Kiev will not extend security guarantees, hinting at possible escalation during the commemorations. The Kremlin brushed off the threat, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting that Russian forces are fully capable of defending the event.
Meanwhile, Moscow reiterated its openness to peace negotiations without preconditions, though analysts say trust between the two parties remains at a low point due to mutual accusations of bad faith and targeting civilians.