Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war
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A still image from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on February 8 shows what it claims to be freed Russian service members aboard a bus after the latest prisoner exchange. Russian Defense Ministry/Handout/Reuters.
Russia and Ukraine have recently exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war (POWs) in a major deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This swap saw both nations release captives in a significant diplomatic development, with the Russian Ministry of Defence confirming that 150 Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for an equal number of Russian troops. On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 189 Ukrainians were returned home as part of the agreement. Among the freed were some of Ukraine’s most symbolic defenders, including those from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.
The emotional reunion was captured by the BBC as freed Ukrainian prisoners returned to northern Ukraine. Alina, whose husband Oleksandr had been captured while defending Mariupol in 2022, tearfully waited for his return. “I have so many emotions. It’s been so difficult. I just want to see him,” she said, reflecting the agony of separation that many families of POWs have endured.
Anatoliy, another freed prisoner, also shared his feelings of gratitude. Captured during the battle for Mariupol in 2022, he expressed relief and hope. “Thank God this day has come. We’re home. Now we’re going to support Ukraine with everything we’ve got,” he said. Another returning prisoner, Ihor, could not contain his joy. “I’m very happy to return to my own country, to my own land. I have no words to say what I feel now,” he told the BBC.
On the Russian side, the defence ministry reported that the returned Russian soldiers were being provided medical care and allowed to contact their families. Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s human rights commissioner, posted a video showing the released soldiers in military attire, surrounded by coaches. “Very soon our guys will hug their families and friends and celebrate the New Year on their native land,” she said, conveying a message of hope and relief.
This latest exchange, which marks the 59th since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is one of the largest of the ongoing war. The Ukrainian released captives included not just soldiers but also border guards, National Guardsmen, and Navy servicemen. Some of those freed had been imprisoned for more than two-and-a-half years, and many returned with serious illnesses or injuries. Ukrainian officials highlighted the physical and psychological toll the prisoners had endured during their captivity.
While the families of the returned soldiers found closure, thousands of Ukrainians remain imprisoned in Russia and Russian-occupied territories. The ongoing negotiations for further exchanges have become more difficult as the conflict intensifies and Russian forces make strategic advances on the battlefield. Though Ukraine does not release exact figures, estimates suggest that over 8,000 Ukrainian POWs remain in Russian custody.
Denys Prokopenko, commander of Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade, which fiercely defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, confirmed that 11 of his men were part of the latest exchange. Prokopenko himself had been released in a prisoner swap in 2022. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to securing the release of all POWs, stating, “We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone.”
The battle for Mariupol was a pivotal moment in the war. After months of intense fighting, Russia declared victory in May 2022, having captured the city and forced the last Ukrainian defenders to surrender at the Azovstal steel plant. Russia also initially seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at the start of the invasion in February 2022. However, they later returned control of the plant to its original employees, though the area remains under intense scrutiny.
This recent exchange of prisoners represents a rare moment of cooperation between the two countries amidst a brutal and ongoing conflict. Despite the difficulties in securing such deals, both sides have emphasized the importance of prisoner exchanges for morale and as a demonstration of humanitarian concern, though the war continues to rage on. The hope remains that more such exchanges will take place in the future, allowing families to reunite and furthering diplomatic efforts in a war that has already caused immense suffering and loss.
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