Russia accuses Ukraine of selective prisoner exchange, claims Kyiv refused hundreds

The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed on Saturday that Ukraine had rejected an offer to exchange 935 prisoners of war, agreeing instead to the release of only 279. The assertion was made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during a press briefing in Moscow.

Zakharova stated that Ukraine is allegedly withholding an exchange for soldiers it considers “traitors” after their surrender, designating at least three brigades as “unsuitable” for return. According to Zakharova, Ukrainian officials are reportedly prioritizing the exchange of combatants from battalions accused of adopting symbols associated with Nazi Germany, such as the Azov, Audra, and Pravy Sector battalions.

The statement follows a call by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to create an international oversight mechanism for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia, aiming to address concerns over their treatment and the conditions of their captivity. Zakharova urged Kyiv to utilize existing channels designed to facilitate such exchanges and accused Ukraine of leveraging the situation for “political publicity” rather than focusing on the welfare of its citizens.