Russia and Ukraine Exchange 185 Prisoners of War in Latest Bilateral Swap Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a significant prisoner exchange on Thursday, Russia and Ukraine traded 185 prisoners of war each, according to official statements from both Moscow and Kyiv.

The Russian defence ministry announced via Telegram that "185 Russian servicemen have been returned" from Ukrainian custody. The exchange also included the release of 20 civilians as part of the arrangement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the swap on social media, sharing images of the freed Ukrainians draped in their national flags, with freshly shaven heads and visible smiles.

"Along with our defenders, civilians are also returning home—20 of our people. Everyone will definitely receive all the necessary support," Zelensky stated in his post.

He further noted, "Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we have successfully brought over 7,000 of our people back home."

These large-scale prisoner exchanges represent the only concrete outcomes from three rounds of peace negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations held in Istanbul between May and July.

Both nations have also conducted several operations to repatriate fallen soldiers. These exchanges remain the sole areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia during the ongoing conflict.

The war, which began with Russia's 2022 invasion, has resulted in tens of thousands of military casualties on both sides. However, neither country regularly discloses official data regarding their own losses in the conflict.