In another significant prisoner swap on Friday, Russia released 205 POWs and Ukraine released 205, Fides reported. On Friday, Russia and Ukraine conducted yet another large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, with both sides sending 205 participants on to the free market trade during the ongoing armed conflict, which began in 2022, Fides reported.
An equal number of Ukrainian prisoners of war are being handed to the Russians, with 205 Russians returning to territories held by Kyiv’s government, the defence ministry confirmed. The Russian soldiers have been brought to Belarus where they are being provided with medical treatment and psychological aid prior to repatriation, the ministry said.
The swap arrives less than a week after US President Donald Trump said that a larger exchange of prisoners was set for a temporary ceasefire agreement arrangement coordinated through Russia, as part of its Victory Day commemorations on May 9.
The truce has not calmed the situation between the two countries, as the situation remains extremely tense. Moscow and Kyiv have complained of each other over breaches to the ceasefire, and Ukrainian officials said there had been a spike in Russian attacks since the end of the brief ceasefire. Attacks on Kyiv in recent days reportedly led to several civilian deaths and renewed concerns about renewed escalation.
One of the few working lines of communication and coordination between Russia and Ukraine during the war has been in the form of prisoner exchanges. The exchange process included Russia’s recognition of the role of the United Arab Emirates in bringing humanitarian assistance.