Russia and Ukraine swap 500+ prisoners in what may be the biggest exchange yet

Russia and Ukraine carried out one of their largest prisoner exchanges, with more than 500 people returned to their home countries.

Russian state media RIA Novosti first announced the swap, which Russia’s Defense Ministry later confirmed, stating 246 Russian soldiers were returned. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy verified that 277 Ukrainian defenders had been freed.

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 246 soldiers were released as part of the official exchange, while an additional 31 were freed under separate arrangements. Russian media reported that in what they termed a “gesture of goodwill,” 31 wounded Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for 15 injured Russian servicemen requiring urgent medical care.

Over 500 POWs exchanged in one of the largest Russia–Ukraine swaps yet.