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| Russia and Ukraine has exchange 185 prisoners of war each / |
Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, with each nation releasing 185 prisoners of war. Additionally, 20 civilians were freed, as reported by both Moscow and Kyiv.
The Russian defence ministry shared on Telegram that they had returned “185 Russian servicemen” along with the civilians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, posting photos of the released Ukrainians wrapped in national flags and smiling. He said, “Alongside our defenders, civilians are also returning home 20 of our people. Everyone will definitely receive all the support they need.” Zelensky also mentioned that since the onset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, over 7,000 Ukrainians have been brought back home.
Prisoner exchanges have been one of the few areas where Russia and Ukraine have cooperated during the conflict. They were the primary result of three rounds of peace negotiations held in Istanbul from May to July and have persisted despite a lack of progress towards a wider resolution. Both nations have also been involved in the repatriation of deceased soldiers.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of soldiers have lost their lives on both sides since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, although neither country routinely releases casualty statistics.