prisoner exchange

Ukraine returns 307 POWs, Mariupol defenders included

Ukraine returned home 307 prisoners of war in a new exchange phase with Russia, President Zelenskyy announced on Telegram on May 24.

24 May 2025, 03:55 PM

More POW swaps set for coming days — Zelenskyy

Further stages of the 1000-for-1000 prisoner-of-war exchange between Ukraine and Russia are expected to take place in the coming days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 23.

23 May 2025, 09:36 PM

Lists of Ukrainian POWs handed to Pope Leo XIV — Coordination Center

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has received lists of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity, Ukraine’s Coordination Center for Prisoner of War Affairs announced on Telegram on May 15.

15 May 2025, 06:44 PM

Zelenskyy: Ceasefire, prisoner swap must lead talks in Turkey

A full ceasefire and the exchange of all prisoners should be the main topics of the possible May 15 talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Liberation and four other European media outlets on May 13.

14 May 2025, 07:57 AM

Ukrainian mother gets update on captive son via exchanged soldier

A Ukrainian mother learned her captive son is alive and healthy from a freed prisoner of war during the May 6 exchange, a moment captured in a poignant video released by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on Instagram.

7 May 2025, 05:15 PM

Ukraine releases touching video of May 6 POW exchange

Ukraine returned 14 border guards home in the May 6 prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange, the State Border Guard Service reported on May 7.

7 May 2025, 02:38 PM

Freed POW shares update on Ukrainian soldier missing since February 2023

A Ukrainian family received the first news in 2.5 years about missing soldier Yevhen Sachenok, learning he is alive and well from a prisoner of war freed in a May 6 exchange, journalist Daryna Kolomiyets reported on Facebook.

7 May 2025, 02:18 PM

277 Ukrainian soldiers return home after Russian captivity — NV photo report

On April 19, a prisoner exchange brought home 277 Ukrainian defenders who had been held in Russian captivity.

19 April 2025, 09:17 PM

Ukraine, Russia set to swap 500 prisoners on April 19

Ukrainian and Russian authorities are planning to exchange about 500 prisoners-of-war on April 19, Sky News reported on April 18.

18 April 2025, 10:26 PM

Russian court jails soldier for surrendering in Ukraine

A Russian military court has sentenced a soldier to 15 years in a high-security penal colony after convicting him of surrendering to Ukrainian forces and attempting to surrender a second time, Russian outlet Kommersant reported on April 15, citing sources familiar with the case.

15 April 2025, 01:45 PM

Russian prisoners confirm decent treatment in Ukrainian captivity before exchange

Russian prisoners of war, who returned to Russia on March 19 following a prisoner exchange, confirmed they had no complaints about their treatment in Ukrainian captivity. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets shared a video of their statements on March 22.

22 March 2025, 09:01 PM

Broad prisoner exchanges are first step to ending war — Zelenskyy

As Ukraine talks with the United States and other partners about ending the Russo-Ukrainian war, one of the first steps must be a full prisoner exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 21.

21 March 2025, 10:23 PM

Ukraine brings back 175 defenders in one of the largest POW swaps

On March 19, Ukraine successfully secured the return of 175 defenders from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.

19 March 2025, 05:54 PM

Ukraine, Russia to exchange 175 POWs each on March 19, Zelenskyy says

Kyiv and Moscow are preparing for a 175-for-175 prisoner swap on March 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference on March 18.

18 March 2025, 11:48 PM

Russian POWs in Kharkiv: 'We drank from puddles to survive'

Russian forces in Kharkiv Oblast are surrendering in groups, realizing their chances of survival are slim, National Guard spokesperson Volodymyr Degtyaryov said on March 13 on Kyiv24.

13 March 2025, 01:20 PM

Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready for ‘all-for-all’ prisoner swap with Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for a prisoner exchange with Russia in an “all-for-all” format on Feb. 24, the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

24 February 2025, 12:03 PM

Ukrainian troops capture Russian soldiers using drone with loudspeaker

Ukrainian paratroopers captured a group of Russian soldiers in the Pokrovsk sector using a drone, the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade reported on Feb. 13, sharing footage of the operation.

14 February 2025, 12:29 PM

Azov soldiers still largely excluded from POW exchanges

During the latest prisoner exchange on Feb. 5, which saw the return of 150 Ukrainians, no soldiers of the National Guard's 12th Special Purpose Brigade ‘Azov’ were released, according to brigade commander Denys Prokopenko.

5 February 2025, 11:49 PM

Zelenskyy exposes pro-Russian politician Medvedchuk’s deal with Moscow

Pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who was exchanged for Ukrainian POWs in September 2022, suggested “surrendering” Ukraine in exchange for an end to the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Piers Morgan on Feb. 4.

5 February 2025, 10:44 AM

Uncertainty surrounds fate of Ukrainian POWs in Il-76 crash – MIHR investigation

The presence of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the Il-76 aircraft that crashed in Russia's Belgorod Oblast on Jan. 24, 2024, remains unconfirmed, according to an investigation by the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) released on Jan. 24, 2025.

24 January 2025, 06:57 PM

prisoner exchange

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