Russia and Ukraine Complete Largest Prisoner Swap Amid Escalating Conflict

Date: May 26, 2025
By:  International Desk

In a rare moment of cooperation during ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine have completed their largest prisoner exchange since the onset of the war in 2022. Over a three-day period concluding on May 25, each side released a total of 1,000 detainees, including military personnel and civilians, as part of an agreement brokered during peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month. Cadena SER+7CBS News+7Al Jazeera+7

Details of the Exchange

The exchange was carried out in three phases:The Kyiv Independent+1France 24+1

• Day 1 (May 23): 270 soldiers and 120 civilians were exchanged.China Daily Asia+1Reuters+1

• Day 2 (May 24): 307 military personnel from each side were released.AP News+1CBS News+1

• Day 3 (May 25): The final phase saw 303 prisoners from each country returned home. DIE WELT+8AP News+8Cadena SER+8

Among the Ukrainian returnees were members of the armed forces, National Guard, Border Guard, and Transport Services, including 70 individuals who had defended Mariupol during the 2022 siege. The Guardian

Russian prisoners were repatriated through Belarus, where they received medical and psychological assistance. China Daily Asia

Escalation Amid Diplomacy

Despite the successful exchange, the conflict intensified concurrently. Just hours before the final phase, Russia launched its largest aerial assault since the war began, deploying 367 drones and missiles across more than 30 Ukrainian cities and villages. At least 12 people were killed, and dozens were injured in the attacks, which targeted regions including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyi. CBS News+3AP News+3The Irish Sun+3

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and criticized the international community's response, stating that the lack of strong sanctions and unified pressure emboldens Russian aggression. AP News+1Time+1

International Reactions

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions following the aerial assault and indicated that further sanctions against Moscow were under consideration. The Irish Sun+1AP News+1

The prisoner exchange, while a significant humanitarian gesture, has not led to a de-escalation of the conflict. Both sides continue to engage in active combat, and the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain.