Hope Amid War: Hundreds Freed in Major Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap

In a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of conflict on Monday, in one of the largest swaps since the war began nearly three years ago, the BBC reported.
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed that 150 Ukrainian soldiers had been exchanged for an equal number of Russian troops, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 189 Ukrainians have returned home.
Among the freed were defenders of critical sites, including the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island in the Black Sea.
Families in northern Ukraine reunited with their loved ones in emotional scenes. Alina, who waited anxiously for her husband Oleksandr, captured in Mariupol in 2022, was overcome with emotion as their moment of reunion drew closer.
Released prisoner Anatoliy, also captured in Mariupol, described feeling overwhelmed with joy. “We’re home now, and we’ll support Ukraine with everything we have,” he said.
Russian prisoners returned to Belarus, where they received medical attention and also reconnected with their families. Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s human rights commissioner, shared videos of the troops preparing to return home, noting they would celebrate the New Year with loved ones.
The exchange, the 59th since the full-scale invasion began, involved soldiers, border guards, National Guardsmen, and Navy servicemen. Many Ukrainians had spent over two years in captivity, with some suffering severe illnesses and injuries. Ukrainian officials noted that negotiating prisoner swaps has become more difficult as Russian forces gain ground on the battlefield.
While the swap brought relief to hundreds of families, thousands of Ukrainians remain in captivity in Russia and occupied territories. Ukrainian officials estimate that over 8,000 of their citizens are still detained.
Denys Prokopenko, commander of Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade, confirmed that 11 members of his unit were among those who had been freed.
Prokopenko himself was released in a 2022 exchange after leading the defense of the Azovstal steel plant during the months-long siege of Mariupol. Zelensky said that two civilians captured in Mariupol were also released in the swap.
“We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. That is our goal,” Zelensky stated, sharing photos of the returning soldiers holding Ukrainian flags.