A senior Ukrainian official has confirmed that a significant prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia is currently underway, marking one of the largest such operations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The move comes as both countries continue to navigate the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war while seeking political leverage through carefully negotiated deals.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, announced the swap on social media, stating that dozens of Ukrainian defenders were being returned from Russian captivity. The exact number of exchanged prisoners has not been publicly disclosed, but sources close to the negotiations suggest that the swap includes soldiers, medics, and civilians captured in previous battles across eastern and southern Ukraine.
“Another large-scale exchange is taking place. Our people are coming home,” Yermak wrote. “We continue our work until we bring every Ukrainian back.”
The Russian side has not yet issued a formal statement, but previous exchanges have often been reciprocal, with Moscow receiving captured Russian troops or pro-Russian separatists in return.
These prisoner swaps have become a rare point of communication and limited cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow, even as frontline fighting intensifies and diplomatic efforts stall. Humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have occasionally played roles in facilitating or verifying these exchanges.
Analysts say such swaps are not only critical for morale—both military and civilian—but also serve as important tools in shaping public perception during wartime. Videos of released Ukrainian soldiers returning home are often shared widely on social media and used by Kyiv to bolster national unity.
The Ukrainian government has consistently prioritized the return of its captured service members and civilians, many of whom have endured harsh conditions and abuse in Russian detention centers. In past statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to secure the return of “every single hero” taken by the enemy.
This latest exchange may also signal that backchannel communications between the warring sides remain functional, despite heightened tensions and relentless combat, especially in the eastern Donbas region and around Kharkiv.
International reaction has been cautiously optimistic, with human rights groups urging both sides to ensure humane treatment for all detainees and to expand such humanitarian efforts wherever possible.
“This is a vital step forward in an otherwise devastating conflict,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “But much more must be done to protect prisoners of war under international law.”
As the war continues with no clear end in sight, the resumption of large-scale prisoner exchanges offers a rare glimpse of progress on the humanitarian front—one that families on both sides of the conflict desperately need.
Source : Swifteradio.com
