Ukraine and Russia Swap 800 Prisoners in Historic War Exchange

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Full Story

Ukraine and Russia have exchanged nearly 800 prisoners of war, marking the largest swap in the ongoing three-year conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the first phase, involving 390 captives returned to Russia, with more expected over the weekend. The deal has drawn attention as a rare diplomatic step amid stalled peace talks.

The exchange began on Friday, with 390 captives returned to Russia. Ukraine received a similar number of prisoners in the first phase.

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The Context

Zelenskyy described the swap as part of a “1,000 for 1,000” agreement. The process is expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, ongoing since 2022, has led to numerous prisoner exchanges. This swap is the largest to date, involving both soldiers and civilians.

Russia’s foreign minister questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy during the process. Despite tensions, both sides agreed to proceed with the exchange.

Some view the swap as a step toward de-escalation in the war. Others believe it does little to address the conflict’s deeper issues.

Previous exchanges were mediated by third parties like the United Arab Emirates. This swap followed direct talks in Istanbul, a rare occurrence since 2022.

The exchange highlights the human toll of the ongoing war. Both nations face pressure to secure the release of remaining captives.