Ukraine and Russia begin prisoner exchange, expected to have multiple stages

The news was shared via Telegram by both President Zelenskyy and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

"Among those we are bringing back now are the wounded, the severely wounded, and those under the age of 25. The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day. We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul,” Zelenskyy said.

Among those freed are defenders of Mariupol who had been held captive by Russia for over three years.

As part of the exchange with Russia, service members from the Navy, Army, Ground Forces, Air Force, Territorial Defense Forces, Border Guard Service, National Guard, and State Special Transport Service returned to Ukraine today. The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that all those released are enlisted personnel — privates and sergeants.

“This is only the first part of a large-scale exchange that will continue within the framework of the agreements reached. This exchange concerns certain categories of prisoners of war, in particular those under the age of 25, seriously wounded and seriously ill captives,” the statement added.

Work is also underway to repatriate the bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers.

Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that young Ukrainians, mostly born in the 2000s, have returned from captivity.

"The vast majority of those returned had been in captivity since 2022, and there are those who were captured in the first days of the full-scale invasion," he emphasized.

Zelenskyy: There will be several stages of exchange, as discussed with the Russian Federation

The Ukrainian president emphasized that the exchange of prisoners of war "will not last one day," and "there will be several stages, at least that's what was discussed with the Russian side."

"The details of the process are quite sensitive. Therefore, there is less information now than usual. Thank you to everyone who helps facilitate the exchange and works to ensure that all our people can return home from Russian captivity," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.

"Today's exchange is the result of the work of the Joint Center for Coordination of Search and Release of Prisoners of War, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and other authorized structures that carried out the instructions of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy," wrote the Security Service of Ukraine.

• On June 7, Russia staged a provocation involving the return of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian defenders.