Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, each returning 270 military personnel and 120 civilians to the other side, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The prisoner swap, involving 390 people from each side, follows the peace talks held last week in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. This deal stands out as one of the few concrete results from otherwise stalled negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the start of the exchange, saying the process began with 390 people on the first day and will continue over the weekend.
The exchange is taking place at the Ukraine-Belarus border and is expected to last three days, according to Ukrainian sources and government projects helping soldiers surrender..
US President Donald Trump welcomed the development on his Truth Social platform, calling the swap "complete" and hinting it “could lead to something big???” — raising hopes for further diplomatic breakthroughs.
Despite the broader peace process remaining frozen, this carefully coordinated exchange is seen as a rare moment of cooperation amid ongoing tensions. Both sides have exchanged prisoner lists, with Ukraine aiming to bring home all its citizens held captive in Russia. However, reports suggest that Russia is returning nearly all its captured soldiers, while Ukraine is expected to recover less than 10% of its prisoners.
The prisoner exchange was first agreed upon during talks in Istanbul on May 16, with further negotiations possibly scheduled in the Vatican in June, according to reports.
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