Istanbul-based Ukrainians Demand Release of Imprisoned Comrades, Stop to Russian Aggression
In a significant development, Turkey has played a crucial role in facilitating prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. The country has hosted negotiations and helped broker agreements that have led to multiple stages of prisoner swaps in mid-2025.
The negotiations, held in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, resulted in agreements to exchange prisoners of war, including seriously ill and wounded soldiers, as well as captured soldiers under 25 years old. Additionally, the agreements included the repatriation of the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side.
Following the June 2 talks, at least two stages of prisoner exchanges took place in June. The first exchange focused on young soldiers under 25, and subsequent exchanges included members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service.
By early July 2025, further exchanges continued with Ukrainians held captive in Russia returned home, adhering to the Istanbul agreements that specify a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange format plus an additional 200 for 200 individuals. Alongside these swaps, significant repatriation of bodies of fallen soldiers has occurred.
Released Ukrainian prisoners and their families in Istanbul have actively called for Turkey's continued support to help release more prisoners and to end the war. Alona Voronika, another family member of a captured soldier, expressed uncertainty about their missing relatives and asked for Turkish support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange via his Telegram channel, while a group of Ukrainians staged a demonstration in Istanbul, calling for Russia to end its attacks and release prisoners.
However, neither Ukraine nor Russia have publicly disclosed exact numbers of prisoners exchanged at each stage for security reasons, although the process is ongoing with expectations for more exchanges under the Istanbul framework.
In summary, Turkey's role as a mediator and host of negotiations in Istanbul has been pivotal in enabling these humanitarian prisoner exchanges, which represent important confidence-building measures amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
- The June 2, 2025, negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, were significant as they resulted in agreements for prisoner exchanges, including Ukrainian and Russian soldiers.
- Notably, these agreements covered prisoners of war who were seriously ill, wounded, or under 25 years old, as well as the repatriation of 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side.
- Following these talks, at least two stages of prisoner exchanges occurred in June 2025, with the initial exchange focusing on young soldiers under 25, and subsequent exchanges including members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service.
- In a show of appreciation, released Ukrainian prisoners and their families have publicly called for Turkey's continued support to facilitate additional prisoner releases and end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
