Ukraine, Russia conduct second prisoner swap under Istanbul deal
"All of them require immediate medical attention," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Prisoner exchange
Ukraine begins new major prisoner exchange with Russia
Among those freed are defenders of Mariupol who had spent more than three years in captivity.
Exchange of fallen soldiers' bodies expected next week, official says
Budanov's statement comes just a day after Russia claimed that a prisoner swap had failed due to Ukraine's fault — an accusation Kyiv denied.
Ukraine refutes Russia’s claims of disrupting POW exchange
"If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 7.
Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says
Ukraine will bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, Russia agree on new prisoner swap, return of fallen soldiers
Key developments on June 2: * Ukraine, Russia conclude talks in Istanbul, a 1,200-for-1,200 prisoner exchange is in the works, Zelensky says * 5 Ukrainian regions, ban on NATO, limits on Kyiv's army — Russian media publishes Moscow's official peace demands * 34% of Russian strategic Russian bombers at main airfields damaged
Ukraine seeks to bring back up to 1,200 people in next prisoner swap with Russia, Zelensky says
The next prisoner exchange will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as people with serious injuries.
Ukraine, Russia preparing for new prisoner exchange following 2nd round of peace talks, Zelensky says
Russia and Ukraine are preparing to hold a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange mediated by Turkey after the second round of peace talks.
May 2025: Ukraine in photos
May was colder and gloomier than usual — both in weather and in mood. Grey skies and damp ground seemed to echo the uncertainty facing Ukraine as the war entered yet another month. It began with a diplomatic reset following a tense exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian
Russia sent Ukraine 65 civilians slated for deportation in major prisoner exchange
In a prisoner exchange from May 23 to 25, Russia sent Ukraine 65 prisoners who were set to be deported to Ukraine regardless of the swap, Suspilne reported on May 30.
Ukraine secures release of POWs from units excluded from all previous swaps
As part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) reported on May 26.
'We could not influence the list' — Ukraine reacts to reported inclusion of alleged defector in prisoner swap with Russia
Ukrainian investigators are working to identify Anatolii Taranenko and verify the accusations raised against him, said Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW).
Ukraine captured almost 1,000 Russian soldiers during Kursk offensive, General Staff says
The military described the Kursk campaign as an "unexpected and asymmetric" move that helped fill the so-called "exchange fund" — Ukrainian terminology for captured Russian soldiers who can be traded for Ukrainian POWs.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine concludes 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap with Russia; Russian missile, drone attack kills 12, injures 79
Key developments on May 24-25: * Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia * Russian missile, drone attack kills 12, injures 79 * US silence 'encourages Putin', Zelensky says after massive Russian attack * Russia losing battlefield edge in war against Ukraine, WP reports * Russia will reveal
Largest-ever Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap comes under fire for lacking Azov fighters, civilians
As Kyiv completed its largest prisoner exchange of the war on May 25, exchanging 1,000 Ukrainian POWs for 1,000 Russians, some spoke out on social media to criticize authorities for failing to return certain captives.
Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia
The prisoner exchange took place in three phases carried out over three days, and was agreed on during peace talks held in Turkey on May 16, the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in three years.
Russia will reveal peace terms to Ukraine after prisoner exchange, Lavrov says
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after the completion of the ongoing prisoner exchange between the two countries.
Inside Ukraine’s 1,000 for 1,000 POW swap with Russia
On May 23, Ukraine and Russia began the largest prisoner exchange since 2014. Over three days, 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) from both sides will return home in a deal agreed upon during direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul earlier this month — the first such talks between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022. The Kyiv Independent went to the site of exchange.
Ukraine hands over 70 collaborators to Russia in May 23 prisoner swap
The identities of 31 of them have been revealed on the project's website. These included Oleksandr Tarnashinskyi, a former associate of pro-Kremlin oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, or ex-Security Service of Ukraine officer Vitalii Vasiliev.
Ukraine brings home 307 POWs in 2nd phase of major prisoner swap with Russia
Ukraine has secured the release of 307 Ukrainians from Russian captivity in the second phase of its largest prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 24.
'It's terrorism' — Russia launches one of the heaviest strikes on Kyiv during full-scale war
Multiple people were injured as multiple waves of explosions rocked Kyiv overnight on May 24 during a massive Russian drone and missile attack.
'It’s okay, Mom, I’m home' —Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap of the war
Editor's note: The article incorrectly said that only soldiers were brought back to Ukraine as part of the exchange. Ukraine has brought back home 290 soldiers and 120 civilians. Their eyes fill with tears as they hear people shouting, ‘Thank you!’ and ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ The soldiers have just arrived
Ukraine working on 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Zelensky says
"We have to release all our people, unconditionally. We are trying to do the maximum we can. We are trying very hard," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine’s Security Service begins preparations for 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap with Russia
The planned exchange follows an agreement reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025.
1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange likely to take place next week, Ukraine intelligence chief says
A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia involving around 1,000 POWs from each side is expected to take place next week, Ukraine's military intelligence chief said on air on May 17, following an agreement reached in Istanbul.
Russia, Ukraine agree on 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange in Istanbul, Umerov says
"We know the date, but we're not going to say it yet," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
Ukraine brings home 205 POWs in prisoner exchange with Russia
This marks the fifth known prisoner of war (POWs) swap of 2025 and the 64th since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Russia 'working hard' to return Wagner POWs, Ukraine's HUR says
Wagner units were key to Russia's seizure of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast in May 2023.
Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia
Another 277 Ukrainian soldiers returned home in a major prisoner swap with Russia mediated by the United Arab Emirates, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 19.
Ukraine, Russia to conduct prisoner swap before Easter, Sky News reports
The swap will reportedly involve 246 POWs from each side, as well as 46 injured soldiers, an undisclosed source told Sky News.
Russia frees woman jailed over charity gift to Ukraine in prisoner swap with US, WSJ reports
Moscow released Ksenia Karelina, a U.S.-Russian dual national accused of treason for allegedly raising money for the Ukrainian military, the WSJ wrote.
Ukraine brings home 175 prisoners of war in swap with Russia
Ukraine has brought home 175 Ukrainian soldiers in a one-for-one prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 19.
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