Monday, May 26, 2025 - Russia announced on Sunday, May 25, that it had exchanged another 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Ukraine — marking the second massive prisoner swap in less than a week and concluding what has become the largest exchange between the two nations since the full-scale war began.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the exchange was
carried out in line with agreements reached in Istanbul on May 16. “In
accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in Istanbul, the
Russian and Ukrainian sides have over the weekend carried out the exchange of
1,000 people for 1,000 people,” the ministry said in a statement
The high-level exchange is part of mounting international
efforts to reduce tensions and push for a ceasefire amid one of the most
protracted and devastating conflicts in Europe since World War II
The prisoner swap takes place against the backdrop of a
conflict that erupted in February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale
invasion of Ukraine, citing security concerns over NATO’s eastward expansion
and alleged discrimination against Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.
Since then, tens of thousands of people have died, cities have been flattened,
and millions of Ukrainians have been displaced.
Despite various diplomatic efforts, including talks brokered
by Turkey and the United Nations, no sustainable peace agreement has been
reached. Frontlines have hardened particularly in Ukraine’s eastern regions,
including Donetsk and Luhansk, where much of the fiercest fighting continues to
rage.
This latest exchange comes on the heels of another massive
swap earlier in the week, where both sides released over 600 prisoners each.
The cumulative exchanges now total over 1,000 soldiers returned to their
respective countries within a matter of days — a rare sign of cooperation
between Moscow and Kyiv amid a brutal war marked by deep mistrust and heavy
casualties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office confirmed
the latest exchange and released images of returning soldiers, many of whom had
been captured during battles in Mariupol, Bakhmut, and other heavily contested
zones. Some of the freed Ukrainians appeared emaciated and emotionally
overwhelmed, reflecting the harsh conditions of their captivity.
For its part, Russia welcomed home its returning servicemen
with televised footage showing military officials greeting them and pledging
continued support for Russian troops on the frontlines.
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