Ukraine and Russia have started the largest prisoner exchange since the war began in 2022. Nearly 800 prisoners will be released in total over the coming days.
First Phase Underway
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the first phase of the swap. Ukraine returned 390 people to Russia. He added that the exchange would continue through the weekend.
Meanwhile, Russian officials said they had received 270 soldiers and 120 civilians. Some of the civilians were from areas in Russia’s Kursk region, which had been under Ukrainian control for months.
Zelenskyy described the prisoner deal as one of the few positive outcomes from recent peace talks.
“The agreement on the release of 1,000 of our people from Russian captivity was almost the only real result of the [direct talks between Russia and Ukraine a week ago in] Turkey,” he said. He added, “It’s very important to bring everyone home.”
Families Reunite with Emotion
As freed Ukrainian soldiers arrived home, their families welcomed them with tears and hugs. Many people held up photos, hoping for news about missing loved ones.
Some soldiers wrapped themselves in the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine, proudly celebrating their return.
Trump Reacts with Optimism
Shortly after the swap began, US President Donald Trump praised the move. He posted, “This could lead to something big???” His message hinted at hope for possible peace talks in the future.
Thousands Still in Captivity
Despite the ongoing exchange, many prisoners remain in both countries. The war has lasted for more than three years, and thousands are still being held.
Currently, Russia holds the majority. Reports estimate that between 8,000 and 10,000 Ukrainian prisoners are still in Russian custody.
Peace Talks Show Signs of Progress
Even though peace talks in Turkey broke down last week, officials on both sides have shown new signs of interest in negotiations.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would soon give Ukraine a draft agreement. The document will outline Russia’s terms for a long-term peace deal. Lavrov said this step would happen after the prisoner swap is complete.
Russia Blames Ukraine for Drone Strikes
However, Lavrov also accused Ukraine of launching a large number of drone attacks in recent days. He claimed these attacks had caused injuries and disrupted flights in several parts of Russia.
💬 Russia's FM Sergey #Lavrov: The Ukrainian side launched a record number of combat drones.
❗️We are witnessing a clear attempt to derail peace talks and disrupt the process that began in Istanbul.
We will continue working on that despite provocations.https://t.co/RMfcWKrP4Y pic.twitter.com/eYcq18wWIA
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) May 23, 2025
According to him, European countries played a role. He alleged that some EU leaders had encouraged Ukraine to carry out the attacks in order to stop peace talks backed by Trump.
Lavrov said Ukraine had launched around 800 drones in just three days. He described the attacks as “a direct consequence” of European Union support for Ukraine.
