Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds in first phase of major prisoner swap

In a rare moment of cooperation amid a prolonged and bloody conflict, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 military personnel and 120 civilians each on Friday, marking the first phase of a large-scale prisoner swap agreement brokered in Istanbul.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the swap, noting that many of the returned civilians had been detained by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Region. All the repatriated Russian individuals are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical care before being transferred to facilities in Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian Side Receives Equal Number of Captives

Kyiv also received 270 Ukrainian servicemen and 120 civilians, mirroring the Russian numbers. While Ukrainian officials have not yet released an official statement on the exchange, the parity suggests the operation was mutually coordinated and executed under the terms of the May 16 agreement reached during direct negotiations in Istanbul.

Trump Comments on Swap, Hints at Bigger Possibilities

Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented early Friday on the deal, calling it a “major prisoners swap” and congratulating both sides. Posting on Truth Social, he said, “This could lead to something big???”—a remark that appears to hint at broader diplomatic potential stemming from the successful exchange.

Future Swaps Anticipated

The Russian Defense Ministry indicated that this was the first stage of a larger series of exchanges, expected to continue in the coming days. The broader agreement reportedly includes 1,000 prisoners of war from each side, and if fulfilled, would represent one of the largest humanitarian gestures between the two nations since the war began in February 2022.

The deal, facilitated through direct talks in Istanbul, marks a rare positive development in an otherwise intractable and violent conflict. If sustained, it could serve as a confidence-building measure and open avenues for further negotiations on humanitarian issues, including the treatment of prisoners, displaced civilians, and humanitarian corridors.

Broader Context

The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and the deepest East-West divide since the Cold War. Both sides have faced international scrutiny over their treatment of prisoners and civilians, making the scale and scope of this exchange particularly significant.

While it remains uncertain whether this initiative will translate into deeper diplomatic progress, the successful implementation of this first exchange signals that backchannel diplomacy—particularly through mediators like Turkey—remains a viable path amid ongoing hostilities.