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

In a significant development amid ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine announced Wednesday that they had each swapped 175 prisoners, marking one of the largest exchanges since Russia launched its full-scale invasion three years ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange, stating that Ukraine had successfully brought 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 Defense Forces, and the Border Guard Service."

Zelenskyy reiterated his call for an “all-for-all” prisoner exchange, emphasizing that releasing all prisoners of war (POWs) and captured civilians could serve as an important step toward peace and help build trust between the two nations.

The prisoner exchange comes at a time when discussions surrounding a temporary ceasefire continue. While no formal agreement has been reached, diplomatic efforts to pause the war are gaining momentum.

Shortly after the exchange, dozens of anxious families gathered at a hospital in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, where the released prisoners were receiving medical evaluations. Among them was 28-year-old Aliona Skuibida, who had campaigned for nearly three years for the return of her fiancé, Andrii Orel. He was captured in April 2022 during the brutal battle for Mariupol, a key city that eventually fell to Russian forces.

In addition to the exchange, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it had separately released 22 severely wounded Ukrainian captives as a “goodwill gesture.” According to Zelenskyy, these soldiers were returned through a separate negotiation process. The Ukrainian president noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had originally promised to release 23 captives in a conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential partial ceasefire, but no explanation was given for the reduction in numbers.

Ukraine has continuously pushed for the return of all its detained soldiers, including those prosecuted by Russia on what Kyiv calls "fabricated charges." Zelenskyy assured the nation that “Ukraine remembers each of its heroes, and we will bring everyone home.”

While prisoner exchanges have taken place throughout the war, Wednesday’s swap was among the largest to date and had been planned before the recent call between Putin and Trump.

Petro Yatsenko, head of the press office at Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs, stressed that such exchanges require extensive preparation and negotiation. Both sides remain engaged in ongoing discussions, raising hopes for further releases in the future.

As the war continues with no definitive resolution in sight, Wednesday’s exchange represents a rare moment of diplomacy between the two warring nations.