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Russia, Ukraine complete first prisoner of war swap of 2025

Russia, Ukraine complete first prisoner of war swap of 2025 Russian Ukrainian POW change. (Photo via X)
By Newsroom
Jan 15, 2025 5:31 PM

In a rare instance of cooperation amid ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 25 prisoners of war each, marking the first such swap of 2025. Both countries confirmed the exchange on Wednesday, highlighting a continuing but limited avenue of dialogue after nearly three years of war.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced the return of 25 Russian servicemen from Ukrainian-controlled territory. “As a result of the negotiation process, 25 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 25 Ukrainian servicemen were handed over,” the ministry stated on Telegram.

Russia, Ukraine complete first prisoner of war swap of 2025
A man walks at the site of shelling, which local officials called a Ukrainian military strike, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on Jan. 10, 2025. (AFP Photo)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed satisfaction with the exchange, emphasizing Kyiv’s commitment to securing the return of its personnel. Among the freed Ukrainians were soldiers who defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, a key site of resistance captured by Russia in May 2022.

Zelenskyy shares Ukrainian POW images on X

“Bringing our people home is what Ukraine is constantly working on, and we will not stop until we bring all of our people back,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He shared images of the released troops, including a man undergoing a medical check and another clutching a Ukrainian flag.

On the Russian side, authorities said their soldiers were being treated in Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, where they were receiving psychological and medical care before returning home.

The United Arab Emirates played a key role in mediating the agreement, a detail confirmed by both sides. The UAE has previously acted as a neutral facilitator in prisoner exchanges and humanitarian efforts.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of fighters have been exchanged in similar deals. Such swaps have remained one of the few functioning mechanisms of engagement between the warring nations.

While these exchanges offer some relief to affected families, the war shows no signs of abating, with both countries preparing for prolonged hostilities.

Last Updated:  Jan 15, 2025 5:31 PM