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Ukraine and Russia exchange nearly 1,000 prisoners of war

2025-05-23 16:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukraine and Russia exchange nearly 1,000 prisoners of war

Russia and Ukraine have each handed over 390 soldiers and civilians in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the full Russian occupation in 2022. Both sides returned 270 servicemen and 120 civilians to the Ukrainian border with Belarus, as part of the only agreement reached in direct talks in Istanbul a week ago.

As reported by the BBC, the two sides had agreed to an exchange of 1,000 prisoners and confirmed that there would be further exchanges in the coming days. Although there have been dozens of smaller-scale exchanges, no other handover has involved so many civilians.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that servicemen and civilians, including those captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk border region during Kiev's offensive in recent months, were among those who surrendered. They were currently on Belarusian territory and would be taken to Russia for medical checks and treatment.

"We are bringing our people home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media.

Ukraine's coordination headquarters for prisoners of war said 270 Ukrainian servicemen had fought in regions across the east and north, from Kiev, Chernihiv and Sumy to Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson. Three of the 390 released on Friday were women.

US President Donald Trump earlier posted his congratulations on his Truth Social platform, claiming that the exchange was complete and that it could lead to something big. /CNA





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