Russia Ukraine POW exchange

Ukraine brings home 160 troops held by Russia since 2022

Ukraine and Russia carried out a new round of prisoner exchanges on June 26, bringing home 160 Ukrainian service members who had been held in captivity since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.

26 June, 03:55 PM

Kyiv says 400 collaborators await transfer to Russia in POW swaps

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has presented the results of three projects involving Russian troops and collaborators in Ukraine, Deputy Head Andriy Yusov said on May 27, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

27 May, 06:35 PM

Ukraine's Umerov holds talks with Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov met in the United States with President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Umerov reported on X on May 8.

8 May, 06:30 PM

Ukraine frees 157 POWs in exchange dominated by Russian convicts

During the 71st prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia on Thursday, Feb. 5, Moscow took back convicted prisoners who had joined the war against Ukraine as well as fighters from the Akhmat unit, according to Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project.

5 February, 06:15 PM

Ukraine, Russia, U.S. agree on 314-prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi

Ukrainian, Russian, and the U.S. delegations reached an agreement on the exchange of 314 prisoners after talks in Abu Dhabi, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkof wrote on X on Feb. 5.

5 February, 01:58 PM

185 Ukrainian defenders and 20 civilians freed from Russian captivity

Ukraine has secured the return of 185 defenders from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Oct. 2.

2 October 2025, 04:25 PM

No quick reunion with family: what really happens to Russian POWs after exchanges — Coordination HQ

Russian prisoners of war returning home after exchanges face interrogations and redeployment to the front lines, not treatment, rehabilitation, or family reunions, according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The state project I Want to Live, backed by the Defense Ministry and Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence, released the account.

25 August 2025, 02:05 PM

Zelenskyy: Deal reached with Russia on return of 1,200 prisoners, work on lists underway

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine and Russia have reached an agreement to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war following negotiations in Istanbul.

3 August 2025, 04:37 PM

Ukraine and Russia conduct fourth POW exchange in a week

Ukraine and Russia carried out another prisoner exchange on June 14, marking the fourth such operation in the past week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

14 June 2025, 04:48 PM

Ukraine repatriates 1,212 fallen soldiers as body exchange with Russia resumes

Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 1,212 soldiers who died on the front lines, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on June 11.

11 June 2025, 01:22 PM

US welcomes Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange

The United States has welcomed the recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, calling it a sign of progress in negotiations, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a press briefing on June 10.

11 June 2025, 09:09 AM

North Korean POWs not included in Ukraine-Russia 1,000-for-1,000 exchange

North Korean prisoners of war were not included in the large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 exchange between Ukraine and Russia, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on May 27.

27 May 2025, 06:26 PM

Survivor recounts torture and death of POWs in Russian jail, says no one avoided beatings

Russia has been systematically torturing and abusing Ukrainian prisoners of war, resulting in the deaths of at least 206 service members, the Associated Press reported on May 27 after speaking with the family of a Ukrainian soldier who died in Russian captivity.

27 May 2025, 02:46 PM

Third phase of 1,000-for-1,000 swap: Ukraine welcomes back freed defenders

On May 25, Ukraine brought home 303 service members in the third phase of a prisoner exchange with the aggressor state Russia. NV published photos from the swap.

25 May 2025, 06:21 PM

Ukraine brings home 303 more troops in third stage of prisoner swap with Russia

Ukraine has secured the return of another 303 servicemembers from Russian captivity as part of a major prisoner exchange agreement, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on May 25.

25 May 2025, 01:01 PM

Families reunite with defenders in NV photo report

On May 24, in the second stage of a prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine brought home 307 prisoners of war. NV publishes a photo report capturing emotional reunions between freed Ukrainian defenders and their loved ones.

24 May 2025, 09:07 PM

Ukraine frees 390 people in prisoner exchange with Russia — Zelenskyy

390 Ukrainians returned home from Russian captivity on May 23, marking the first stage of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner swap, which is expected to continue through the weekend. Zelenskyy announced the news in a post on Telegram.

23 May 2025, 05:54 PM

Large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia will take several days — NV source

A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and aggressor state Russia will take place over several days, a source told NV.

23 May 2025, 04:39 PM

Trump trades facts for fantasy in premature Ukraine-Russia POW swap claim

The prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia — which U.S. President Donald Trump claimed had already taken place — had not been completed as of 1:40 p.m. local time on May 23, sources told NV.

23 May 2025, 02:25 PM

Kremlin says POW swap needs time, denies ceasefire negotiations

Russia is ready to carry out a large-scale prisoner swap with Ukraine — in a 1,000-for-1,000 format — “as quickly as possible,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a briefing on May 22, according to Russian state media.

22 May 2025, 03:25 PM

Russia Ukraine POW exchange