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Russia, Ukraine swap 185 PoWs each Russia and Ukraine exchanged 185 prisoners of war on Friday, the Russian defense ministry said, in one of the few areas of cooperation between the warring sides.For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our dedicated page.“On June 5, 185 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, 185 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over,” the ministry was quoted as saying by the state RIA news agency.Read more:Russia’s Dmitriev expects contacts with Witkoff, Kushner this week: MediaAzerbaijan says five citizens killed in attacks on vessels in Sea of AzovZelenskyy, in open letter to Putin, proposes face-to-face meeting

Ukraine and Russia swap 205 prisoners of war each By Nathan Rennolds Published on 15/05/2026 - 14:02 GMT+2 • Updated 14:04 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram most of the Ukrainians handed over had been in Russian captivity since 2022. Ukraine and Russia exchanged 205 prisoners of war each on Friday, Kyiv and Moscow said, a week after US President Donald Trump announced a large swap would take place between the two countries. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a post on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that most of the Ukrainians handed over had been in Russian captivity since 2022, the year Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "This is the first phase of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange," he said. Zelenskyy also posted pictures of the released Ukrainians, showing them wrapped in national blue-and-yellow flags as they smiled and embraced each other. He said they included troops who fought in the battle for the Mariupol steelworks, Azovstal, and those who defended Chernobyl, which briefl…

Russia and Ukraine Release 160 POWs Each Russia's Defense Ministry said the United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange.

Kyiv Says Russia Returned 528 Bodies to Ukraine By AFP May 16, 2026 Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / Telegram Kyiv said on Saturday that Russia had returned 528 bodies to Ukraine, identified as Ukrainian soldiers killed in action, in one of the few areas of cooperation between the warring neighbors. “As a result of repatriation efforts, the bodies of 528 deceased individuals have been returned to Ukraine; according to the Russian side, they may be Ukrainian servicemen,” Ukraine's prisoners of war center stated on social media, without specifying when the remains were received. Investigators and experts “will take all necessary steps to identify the repatriated deceased,” the center said, a day after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war each. Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump made an announcement on social media that the two sides would observe a three-day ceasefire in the conflict, from Saturday to Monday, as well as an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Friday's prisoner exchange marked the first phase of the swap announced by Trump. Since the start of the Russian i…

Ukraine and Russia exchange 185 prisoners of war each in swap Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on June 5, 2026 · Last updated: June 5, 2026 KYIV, June 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia each exchanged 185 service personnel in the latest prisoner of war swap on Friday, officials in both countries said. Most of the Ukrainians brought back were in Russian captivity since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on X. Russia also returned one civilian, he added. The oldest Ukrainian being brought back is 62, according to Kyiv's general staff. Friday's swap is the second one under an agreement between the countries to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each, as part of a three-day ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. in early May. The United Arab Emirates, which brokered previous rounds of swaps, also mediated the Friday exchange, the Russian defence ministry said on the Telegram app. (Reporting by Yuliia DysaEditing by Ros Russell) Explore more articles in theHeadlinescategory

The Politics of Prisoner Exchange: Azovstal Defenders and the Limits of ... On May 25th, a major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russiaconcluded, resulting in the return of 1,000 Ukrainians over a three-day exchange. This swap was part of ongoing “peace talks” held in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian representatives. The names of the released prisonerswere not publicly disclosed, prompting many Ukrainian families to gather at reception points with photos of their missing loved ones, hoping someone might have seen them in Russian captivity. For many, it was a chance to learn whether relatives listed as missing in action were still alive. However, the exchange was bittersweet for some Ukrainian families. Notably, no members of the Azov Battalion were among the released,drawingstrong criticism from Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko (callsign “Redis”), commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov.” Russian authorities classify the Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization and frequently deny its members POW status, subjecting them to especially cruel and inhumane treatment. The issue of Ukrainian POWs has also been subject to manipulation in Russian media. For a deta…

Ukraine, Russia conduct POW swap after trilateral talks with US end More than 300 POWs were expected to be exchanged, officials said. LONDON --Trilateral talks between American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators concluded in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with Moscow and Kyiv exchanging hundreds of prisoners of war and the U.S. and Russia agreeing to "reestablish high level military-to-military dialogue." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kyiv expected an exchange of prisoners of war with Russia "in the near future," following the first round of talks in Abu Dhabi. U.S. President Donald Trump's peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, posted to X on Thursday morning with more details of the exchange, which he said would involve 314 prisoners and would be the first such exchange for five months. "This outcome was achieved from peace talks that have been detailed and productive," Witkoff wrote. "While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine." United States European Command later released a statement saying that, following the t…

Explained: How Ukraine negotiates prisoner of war swaps with Russia Explained: How Ukraine negotiates prisoner of war swaps with Russia by Daria Shulzhenko June 23, 2025 7:46 PM 12 min read Ukrainian POWs leave a bus in the Chernihiv Oblast after a prisoner exchange on May 23, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images) Explainer Prefer on Google by Daria Shulzhenko Even after Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Russia in 2022, prisoner exchanges have continued as one of the few remaining channels of communication between the two countries. Negotiated behind closed doors and carried out irregularly, POW swaps — and the decisions surrounding them — have long been shrouded in secrecy. Controversies have repeatedly erupted in Ukraine over whether Kyiv is doing enough to bring back its people and which POWs it prioritizes. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has consistently proposed an " all-for-all " exchange, which Russia has so far rejected. As of early June, Ukraine has brought home over 5,700 people – including both soldiers and civilians – through more than 65 exchanges since Feb. 24, 2022. Thousands of Ukrainians remain in Russ…

Russia-Ukraine Exchange of Fallen Soldiers: Over 1,000 Ukrainian ... HOT:» Revealed: How Bulgaria Has Been Arming Ukraine for Four Years Russiahas returnedmore than 1,000 bodies of UkrainiansoldierstoUkraine, in what appears to be a coordinated exchange of fallen troops between the two countries. In return,Ukrainesent back the remains of38 Russian servicemen, according to the Russian TV channelRT, as reported byReuters. Ukraineconfirmed the exchange, with thePrisoners of War Centerposting onTelegram: “We have received 1,000 bodies, which, according to the Russian side, belong to Ukrainian military personnel.” The exchange highlights ongoing efforts, amid the conflict, torecover and repatriate the remains of fallensoldierson both sides. Such operations are critical for providing families with closure and for maintaining certain humanitarian protocols, despite the continued fighting. While the numbers differ significantly between the two sides, the exchange demonstrates a rare moment of coordination in an otherwise tense and deadly conflict. Authorities on both sides have been under pressure to ensure the proper handling of the deceased and to uphold international standards for…

Ukraine and Russia Exchange Nearly 1K Bodies of Fallen Soldiers March 28, 2025 @mvs_ukraine Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of 952 fallen soldiers, officials from both countries said Friday. Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Kremlin activist in the partially occupied  Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia received the bodies of 43 soldiers. Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev confirmed the exchange and the figure to the RBC news website. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said it received 909 bodies, adding that the soldiers had died in combat in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. “Law enforcement investigators, together with expert institutions of the Interior Ministry, will establish the identity of the victims as soon as possible,” the Ukrainian agency said. Rogov claimed the discrepancy in exchange numbers reflected Ukraine’s “colossal losses” on the battlefield. Friday’s exchange marks the seventh swap since last October involving at least 500 Ukrainian soldiers. Despite the ongoing war, prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of soldiers’ remains remain among the few areas of cooperation bet…

Russian ombudswoman reports new Russia-Ukraine POW swaps in the pipeline According to Yana Lantratova, work is underway to accelerate the exchange of POWs

Russia and Ukraine Exchange 50 POWs in First Swap of 2025 By AFP Jan. 15, 2025 @V_Zelenskiy_official Russia and Ukraine exchanged 25 prisoners of war each in their first swap of 2025, officials from both countries announced Wednesday. Thousands of captives have been returned in similar exchanges since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, providing one of the few instances of dialogue between the warring nations. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange on Telegram, stating that, “as a result of the negotiation process, 25 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 25 Ukrainian servicemen were handed over.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the group returning to Ukraine included soldiers who defended Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant, a key battleground captured by Russia in May 2022. Zelensky also noted that some of the returnees were civilians, although Russia maintained it had only released Ukrainian soldiers. “Bringing our people home is what Ukraine is constantly working on, and we will not stop until we bring all of our people back,” Zelensky wrote on X, sharing photos of the freed prisoners.…

Russia and Ukraine exchange 160 prisoners of war each <p>Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a POW exchange with Ukraine in which each side transferred 160 people to the other.<p>

UAE brokers latest Russia–Ukraine prisoner swap as Zelensky pushes ‘all-for-all’ deal <p>Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 185 prisoners, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday. The United Arab Emirates brokered the swap.<p>

160 Ukrainian POWs released from Russian captivity in latest major exchange "We remember everyone who is in captivity," Zelensky said, adding that all those released in the current exchange had been held by Russia since 2022.

Russia Returns Seven Civilians from Kursk Region - Archynewsy 100 Russia and Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Ahead of Easter Truce Russia and Ukraine conducted a significant prisoner-of-war exchange on Saturday, April 11, 2026, as both nations move toward a planned Easter truce. The deal, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, saw a symmetrical swap of 175 Russian servicemen for 175 Ukrainian servicemen, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense . Key Details of the Prisoner Swap The exchange is part of a broader effort to return captives before the holiday period. Beyond the military personnel, the swap included the return of seven Russian citizens from the Kursk region who had been detained by Kyiv. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova stated via Telegram that these individuals were the final Kursk residents remaining in Ukrainian captivity following the 2024 incursion into the region. The returned Russian servicemen are currently stationed in Belarus to receive medical and psychological care before they are transferred to rehabilitation facilities within Russia. Recent Exchange History April 11, 2026: 175-for-175 exchange facilitated by the UAE. March 6, 2026: A…

Ukraine repatriates 1,000 fallen soldiers in latest exchange War Ukraine repatriates 1,000 fallen soldiers in latest exchange April 9, 2026 3:10 pm • 2 min read Prefer on Google by Asami Terajima Ukraine brought back 1,000 bodies of fallen service members as part of ongoing repatriation efforts on April 9, 2026. (Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War) Russia has returned the bodies or remains of 1,000 fallen soldiers to Ukraine during the latest repatriation exchange, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on April 9. Ukraine has returned the bodies of 41 fallen Russian soldiers in exchange, the Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency reported on April 9, citing its source. The Coordination Headquarters said that law enforcement investigators and the Interior Ministry's expert agencies will conduct examinations to identify the repatriated individuals before handing them over to their families for burial. The latest repatriation exchange comes as the U.S. pushes Ukraine and Russia to continue peace talks to reach a deal to end the war. Negotiations over the repatriation of bodies are among the few Kyiv-Moscow channels tha…

Ukraine and Russia exchange 185 prisoners of war each Russia and Ukraine have each released 185 prisoners in a major exchange, which Russia says was mediated by the UAE.

Russia and Ukraine Reach Deal on New POW Swap and Handover of Bodies Russia and Ukraine said they had agreed at peace talks on Monday to exchange more prisoners of war and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. The warring sides met for barely an hour in the Turkish city of Istanbul, for only the second such round of negotiations since March 2022. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described it as a great meeting and said he hoped to bring together Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a meeting in Türkiye with US President Donald Trump. But there was no breakthrough on a proposed ceasefire that Ukraine, its European allies and Washington have all urged Russia to accept. Moscow says it seeks a long-term settlement, not a pause in the war; Kyiv says Putin is not interested in peace. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said Russian negotiators had handed their Ukrainian counterparts a detailed memorandum outlining Moscow's terms for a full ceasefire. Medinsky, who heads the Russian team, said Moscow had also suggested a "specific ceasefire of two to three days in certain sections of the front" so that the bodies of dead soldiers could be collected. Each si…

Russia, Ukraine carry out 185-for-185 prisoner exchange The returned Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus

Russia and Ukraine Exchange 370 POWs Both sides said that several civilians were also released as part of the swap, which the United Arab Emirates mediated.

Ukraine, Russia swap 193 prisoners of war each in US, UAE-facilitated ... Ukraine, Russia swap 193 prisoners of war each in US, UAE-facilitated exchange Apr 24, 2026 Add AL-MONITOR on Google Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an unknown location in Ukraine April 24, 2026. REUTERS/Anatolii Stepanov — Anatolii Stepanov KYIV/MOSCOW, April 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner of war swap on Friday, sending back 193 captured personnel each in an exchange both sides said was facilitated by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. "It is important that there are exchanges and that our people are returning home," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a post on Telegram. His chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, and Russia's defence ministry said the U.S. and the UAE had assisted with the exchange. Russia and Ukraine have conducted many prisoner swaps over four years of war, exchanging thousands of captives in total. Zelenskiy said some of the returned captives, who included soldiers, border guards and police, had injuries, while others had faced criminal charges in Russia. In Ukraine, returning captives st…

Russia, Ukraine exchange bodies of fallen soldiers - Anadolu Ajansı Russia and Ukraine on Thursday carried out another exchange of the bodies of fallen servicemen. "Russia handed over 1,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, while the Ukrainian side handed over 41 bodies of Russian servicemen," Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the talks with Ukraine, said on Telegram. Medinsky alleged that the figures show the difference in losses from the two sides. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed it received 1,000 bodies, adding that their identity needs to be confirmed. It did not specify how many dead soldiers were transferred to Russia. On Feb. 2, 2026, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that since June 2025, more than 12,000 remains had been handed over to Ukraine, while Russia had received more than 200 bodies of its servicemen. The ministry also said that 17 rounds of exchanges of prisoners of war and detainees between Russia and Ukraine, organized with mediation by the UAE in 2024–2025, had resulted in the release of more than 4,000 people.

Legal Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange Ukraine Symposium – Legal Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange by Pavle Kilibarda | Feb 5, 2024 In early January, Russia and Ukraine announced the largest prisoner exchange since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the exchange reportedly included the release of 248 Russian military personnel by Kyiv and 230 “people”—including 224 soldiers and six civilians—who had been held by Russian forces. The question of prisoners of war (POWs) and their release in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has already been discussed on Articles of War here and here . In this post, I would like to additionally reflect on two matters that come to mind in light of the recent exchange, namely, the legal implications of an exchange of POWs under international humanitarian law (IHL) and how such practice relates to the prohibition of hostage-taking. IHL and Exchanges of POWs Article 4 of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (GC III) foresees that a diverse range of combatants who have fallen into the power of the enemy are to be considered …

Zelenskyy: Ukraine Negotiating 1,200-Person POW Swap With Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and Russia reached a preliminary agreement to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war, Zelenskyy wrote on X on August 3. Negotiations are currently focused on finalizing the lists of those eligible for release. “There is an agreement to exchange 1,200 people, and work on the lists is ongoing,” Zelenskyy said. “The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) reported on communication with the Russian representative. We are also working to unblock the return of our civilians and are verifying data on each individual.” Together with NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, we discussed the negotiation track – specifically, the implementation of the agreements reached during the meetings with the Russian side in Istanbul, as well as preparations for a new… pic.twitter.com/19wA2cZMsP — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 3, 2025 The update came after a high-level meeting focused on implementing agreements reached during recent negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials in I…

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine brings home 160 POWs in new exchange with Russia * Ukraine brings home 160 POWs in new exchange with Russia; * EU to restrict protections for Ukrainian men, says it's at Kyiv's request; * Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea announce state of emergency amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks; * Ukraine says it struck Russian military supply vessels, air defense systems in occupied Crimea. A total of 160 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were released in the latest major exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said