Implementation of agreements: Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners
Russia and Ukraine have completed the largest prisoner exchange under the "1000 to 1000" formula. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on the afternoon of May 25, Moscow and Kiev handed over 880 military personnel and 120 civilians to each side. Among the Russians returned as part of the exchange, there are civilians from the Kursk region who were captured by the Ukrainian military, the Defense Ministry stressed.
Prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine seven days after negotiations
Russia and Ukraine on Friday began the largest prisoner exchange under the "1000 to 1000" formula. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on May 23, Moscow and Kiev handed over 270 military and 120 civilians to each side, on May 24 — 307, and on May 25 — 303 military. By Sunday, 880 military personnel and 120 civilians had returned to Russia. Among the Russians returned as part of the exchange, there are civilians from the Kursk region who were captured by the Ukrainian military, the Defense Ministry stressed.
The soldiers released from captivity expressed their gratitude for the rescue.
Russia hopes that the prisoner exchange will create a favorable atmosphere for discussing the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed on their intention to organize a prisoner exchange at the first talks in three years, which took place on May 16 at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. On the Russian side, the delegation was led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, on the Ukrainian side by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
It is noteworthy that it was Russia that proposed the 1000-for-1000 prisoner exchange initiative. This was recalled by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. She noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in principle, could not decide on Kiev's participation in the negotiations for a long time. According to her, he consulted with European leaders, who tried to prevent the resumption of direct dialogue with the Russian Federation.
In turn, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with reporters on the eve of the exchange, called negotiations with the Ukrainian side on this issue a laborious process, since work is underway "on specific names." In addition, he indicated that both sides are interested in conducting the exchange "as quickly as possible."
On the same day, the countries exchanged lists of names and surnames of the prisoners.
Past prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine periodically exchange prisoners of war. The last time this happened was on May 6 in the "205 by 205" format. The previous one was on April 19 according to the formula "246 by 246". At that time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the total number of prisoners transferred to both sides through the mediation of the UAE was 3.2 thousand people.
At the same time, in November 2024, the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia, Tatiana Moskalkova, accused Ukraine of sabotaging the prisoner of war exchange process. She drew attention to the fact that Kiev has not taken away captured soldiers from the 102nd, 126th and 118th separate brigades for more than a year.
At the same time, Maria Zakharova said that in general, in 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry submitted to the coordinating headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war a proposal to return 935 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to Kiev as part of the exchanges, but he agreed to accept only 279 people. Zakharova drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian side is most interested in the issue of exchanges in the return of members of extremist units and foreign mercenaries.
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