Russia and Ukraine complete second POW swap

Sarhan Basem
Credit: X/ @ZelenskyyUa

Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, Moscow and Kyiv each exchanged 307 of their service personnel during the second day of a prisoner swap, which is expected to become the largest exchange in the three-year fighting between the two nations upon completion.

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a prisoner exchange that would involve the release of 1,000 prisoners from each side over three days. He believes this could mark the beginning of a new phase in the ongoing, fluctuating negotiations for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting in Istanbul last week between Kyiv and Moscow resulted in the agreement to release 1,000 prisoners from each side. This was the only significant encounter between the two parties since Russia’s full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The swap was disclosed on Saturday by Russia’s defence ministry and also by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a post on the social media platform X.

How many prisoners were released by each side?

The first phase of the exchange occurred on Friday, with Russia and Ukraine each releasing 390 prisoners, which included 120 civilians, and both nations stated they would release additional prisoners in the following days.

How did Russia and Ukraine respond publicly?

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that “270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians” have been returned to Russia. The ministry noted that these civilians were taken captive by Ukrainian forces in Kursk, the Russian region that experienced a surprise incursion from Ukraine last summer. Russia has since regained control over most of this territory.

Ukraine’s POW coordination headquarters reported that 270 Ukrainian servicemen engaged in battles throughout the east and north, spanning areas from Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy to Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson.

Will there be more exchanges in the coming days?

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia would be prepared to present Ukraine with a draft outlining the conditions for a long-term peace agreement, following the completion of the current prisoner exchange. The release occurred just hours after the Ukrainian capital experienced an overnight attack by Russian long-range drones and ballistic missiles, resulting in 15 injuries.

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
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