Russia and Ukraine Release 20 Prisoners of War
Belarus said it acted as a mediator in the latest prisoner-of-war exchange.
Ukraine and Russia recently swapped 20 prisoners of war, with officials in Kyiv and Belarusian media confirming the release on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the exchange a "special stage" among ongoing prisoner releases with Moscow. Belarusian state media reported that Minsk acted as a mediator in the latest swap. Russia's Defense Ministry has yet to confirm the release.
Among the freed soldiers were two previously classified as missing in action since 2024 and eight from 2025. The group comprised soldiers and sailors from Ukraine's armed forces and national guard who had been fighting in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials emphasized the importance of bringing back these servicemen. Zelensky tweeted, "Today, as part of a special stage of the exchange, we are bringing back 10 of our warriors — through Belarus."
This release occurred less than a week after another exchange of 103 servicemen following mediation from the United Arab Emirates. Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Oleh Ivashchenko, had previously stated that another exchange was anticipated before the end of the month. Multiple exchanges of prisoners of war have taken place since the start of the year, with both Russia and Ukraine releasing hundreds of captives through U.S. and UAE mediation since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Repatriating fallen soldiers and prisoner-of-war exchanges serve as critical channels of communication between Moscow and Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.
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