Moscow/Kyiv: Russia and Ukraine have completed a major prisoner exchange, each releasing 1,000 detainees in what is the largest swap since the war began over three years ago. The exchange, which unfolded over three days starting Friday, marked a rare moment of cooperation between the two nations amid ongoing hostilities.
Both sides confirmed the deal on Sunday. The Russian Defence Ministry and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the conclusion of the process, which involved mainly prisoners of war as well as 120 civilians on each side. The final phase of the exchange on Sunday saw the transfer of 303 prisoners from each camp.
“Today, warriors of our Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service are returning home,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram, celebrating the return of Ukrainian personnel.
The swap emerged as the only tangible outcome from direct talks held on May 16 — the first high-level engagement between the two sides in more than three years. Although the meeting ended without agreement on a ceasefire, the prisoner exchange signaled a possible opening for further humanitarian efforts.
Ukraine, along with the United States and several Western allies, has advocated for an unconditional 30-day halt to fighting to create space for renewed peace negotiations. However, both sides continue to sustain heavy losses, and battlefield activity remains intense.
The war, now in its third year, has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Although neither side publishes reliable casualty numbers, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded. Civilian deaths in Ukraine also number in the tens of thousands due to sustained Russian missile and artillery attacks on major cities.
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On Friday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that once the prisoner exchange concluded, Moscow would be ready to submit a draft proposal for a long-term peace agreement to Kyiv. However, it remains unclear how Ukraine will respond amid continued Russian offensives.
Just hours before the final phase of the exchange, Russia launched the largest aerial attack of the war to date. Ukrainian officials reported that 367 drones and missiles were fired at multiple cities, including Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.
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In response, Ukraine’s air defence systems were activated across the country. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its own forces had intercepted or destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones within a four-hour timeframe. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that 12 Ukrainian drones were shot down en route to the Russian capital.
While the prisoner swap provides a glimmer of hope, the intensity of ongoing attacks underscores the persistent volatility of the conflict. Whether this symbolic gesture can pave the way for sustained diplomatic progress remains uncertain.
