MOSCOW/ KYIV: As Russia launches a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant prisoner exchange is set to take place between the two countries. Both nations are expected to exchange hundreds of soldiers and civilians today and tomorrow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Telegram, “We are bringing our people home. The first part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange agreement has been implemented.” He noted that 390 individuals have already been exchanged, with the process expected to continue on May 24 and 25. Russian and Ukrainian officials confirmed that this includes 270 soldiers and 120 civilians.
The exchange occurred at the border with Belarus, a country allied with Russia that has shown support for the invasion but has not deployed its troops to the conflict. The Ukrainian Coordinating Agency for Prisoner Affairs stated that among the 390 exchanged individuals, three were women.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the 120 civilians released by Ukraine are residents of Kursk Oblast, a region that fell under Ukrainian control after a surprise attack last August.
A Ukrainian agency involved in the exchange indicated that 70 of the individuals sent to Russia were Ukrainians convicted of treason, terrorism, or collaboration with the enemy, who had requested to be sent to Russia.
This 1000-person exchange marks the largest since the onset of the invasion, although previous exchanges have not led to any practical progress toward ending the conflict. Russia has rejected calls from Ukraine, the U.S., and European countries for a 30-day ceasefire, and no new meeting has been scheduled since Istanbul.
