Ukraine and Russia exchange hundreds of prisoners, part of the biggest swap of the war

Russia and Ukraine have launched what officials say could be the largest prisoner exchange since the war began in 2022. The process started Friday, with nearly 800 prisoners released in the first wave.

The coordinated swap is expected to continue through the weekend. Both nations agreed to exchange 2,000 individuals—1,000 from each side. The deal marked the only concrete outcome from last week’s Istanbul meeting, where Kyiv and Moscow met face-to-face for the first time in over a year.

“We are bringing our people home,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on X. He confirmed that 390 Ukrainians returned Friday, including 270 soldiers and 120 civilians.

The Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that Friday’s group included three women and 387 men. Photos and videos shared by Ukrainian officials showed many of the returnees draped in flags and wearing blue-and-yellow bracelets.

In a statement, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Ukraine returned 270 Russian soldiers and 120 civilians. The ministry claimed Ukrainian forces captured the civilians during a surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last summer. Moscow has since reasserted control over most of the territory.

Zelensky disputed Russia’s characterization of the civilians. He called them “Russian saboteurs and collaborators” apprehended by Ukrainian authorities.

As in previous swaps, the prisoners were transported to the exchange point by bus. Ukrainian troops greeted their countrymen at the border, handing out flags and symbols of national pride. Many of the returnees, dressed in fatigues with shaved heads, were seen crying and speaking with loved ones over the phone.

Along the convoy route, Ukrainian villagers gathered with flags to welcome the prisoners. Families waiting in Chernihiv region stood for hours, holding photos and flags, hoping to reunite or learn the fate of missing relatives.

Despite the celebrations, the air raid sirens served as a reminder of the ongoing war. As people awaited the convoy’s arrival, alarms warned of a possible Russian attack.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been detained without charge. Many were deported to Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukraine classifies them as civilian hostages. Russia, however, has argued they should be considered prisoners of war, a claim Kyiv resists.

This weekend’s deal stems from the Istanbul talks, which Russia proposed after European allies issued a ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum. Observers called the proposal a stalling tactic by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Although the prisoner swap provides some relief to Ukrainian families, the limited outcome from the Istanbul meeting disappointed many. In his nightly address, Zelensky described the exchange as the “only significant result” and accused Russia of blocking progress on all other issues.

Ukrainian and Russian authorities initially avoided confirming the swap while it was underway. But former U.S. President Donald Trump announced it on social media as it began Friday.

Prisoner exchanges have occurred regularly since the invasion. The Ukrainian Coordination Center said a May 7 swap returned over 200 Ukrainian soldiers. That was the fifth swap in 2025 and the 64th since March 2022. As of this month, Ukraine reports the release of 4,757 of its citizens.

While the deal marks progress, Kyiv’s broader goals remain unmet. Ukraine and its Western partners demanded an immediate ceasefire during the Istanbul talks. Kyiv also pushed for direct negotiations between Zelensky and Putin. Neither request moved forward.

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