Russia and Ukraine Conduct Largest Prisoner Swap in Three-Year Conflict, Exchanging 307 Soldiers

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Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 307 of their service personnel on the second day of an extended prisoner swap set to be the largest in the three-year war.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the swap could herald a new phase in stop-start efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv. There should be 1,000 prisoners released on each side over three days.

Saturday’s swap was announced by Russia’s defence ministry, and separately by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a post on social media platform Telegram.

“Tomorrow we expect more,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“Our aim is to bring back all of us from being held by Russia.”

Russia: Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war

Over 300 Russian soldiers were sent back home following a prisoner exchange that was arranged after recent discussions. Source: SIPA USA / Russian Defence Ministry

Reuters news agency’s television footage showed freed Ukrainian servicemen at a rendezvous point inside Ukraine coming off buses draped in blue and yellow national flags as waiting family members chanted: “Welcome!”

Serviceman Dmytro Havrylenko held his son, and his mother, in a very long embrace.

“I am shocked to be honest,” he said.

“The past 17 months were challenging, extremely tough. But now, things are alright.”

Women held up photos of missing servicemen and gathered around returnees to ask about their whereabouts.

One woman, identifying herself as Yana, said no one had any news of her husband, missing since Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last year.

“Maybe the boys will recognise his photo and share some information,” she said.

“We’re here for the second day. Maybe today.”

Footage released by Zelenskyy’s office showed one released serviceman in tears and being consoled by a woman in military uniform. People assigned to greet the soldiers handed them mobile phones, so they could call relatives.

“I can’t believe I’m home,” one man said.

Ukraine and Russia exchange hundreds of prisoners of war

Ukraine POWs were handed mobile phones to call loved ones as they were returned home. Source: EPA / EPA

A short video released by the Russian defence ministry showed Russian service personnel disembarking from buses and posing with the Russian flag, as well as the flags of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

The first part of the exchange took place on Friday when Russia and Ukraine each released 390 prisoners, including 120 civilians, and said they would free more in the coming days.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would be ready to hand Ukraine a draft document outlining conditions for a long-term peace agreement once the current prisoner exchange was completed.

The prisoner exchange was agreed at short-lived talks in Istanbul on 16 May between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, who had come together at the urging of Trump.