Ukraine and Russia Prisoner Swap Frees Hundreds of Troops

Russia and Ukraine conducted a large prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of hundreds of soldiers, officials announced Monday.

The swap was facilitated with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates.

Why It Matters

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the two countries have been engaged in an intense war with prisoners being taken by both sides.

Throughout the nearly three-year conflict, Russia and Ukraine have carried out numerous prisoner exchanges.

What To Know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the release of 189 Ukrainian prisoners, including military personnel, border guards, national guards and two civilians. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its role in brokering the exchange.

Prisoners are welcomed back as Ukrainian servicemen and two civilians returned from Russian captivity on December 30, 2024, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. The prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine freed hundreds of troops on both sides... Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images/Getty Images

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that 150 Russian soldiers were released as part of the prisoner exchange with each side freeing an equal number of captives. The discrepancy in the reported numbers of prisoners released by each side remains unexplained.

Among those released from Russian captivity were defenders of Snake Island, a strategic outpost near the Black Sea port of Odesa seized by Russia in the early days of the invasion, Zelensky said. The freed prisoners also included troops who fought to defend Mariupol, the city that fell to Russian forces after a nearly three-month siege early in the war.

Russia's Defense Ministry stated that the freed Russian servicemen were initially transported to Belarus, a close ally, where they received medical and psychological care before continuing to Russia.

The latest prisoner exchange coincided with President Joe Biden's announcement on Monday of a new $2.5 billion weapons package for Ukraine. The move reflects his administration's urgency to utilize available funds to support Kyiv's defense against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.

Ukrainian Prisoners Executed By Russia

Fve Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed last month, Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General reported. The prosecutor's office said Russian troops stormed Ukrainian positions near the village of Petrivka, Pokrovsk district, in November, which led to five Ukrainian soldiers retreating to hide in a private residence.

Moscow's troops encircled the apartment, capturing the defenders. Upon being captured, the prisoners were shot after being made to lie on the ground unarmed, said the report.

This follows an earlier announcement that more Ukrainian prisoners of war had been executed by Russian forces the month prior.

What People Are Saying

In a statement, Zelensky said "We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity...We do not forget anyone."

What's Next

It is currently unclear if the U.S. will issue a response to the recent swap of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia or if the two countries have discussed future exchanges to take place in the near future.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.