Healing War Heroes: Fifth Prisoner Swap Between Kyiv and Moscow
Moscow and Kiev swap detainees
Update your timeline: The fifth round of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, a series initiated post the agreement struck in peace talks in Turkey, occurred on June 19, 2025. This exchange mainly focused on soldiers who were gravely ill and injured, some captured as early as the onset of Russia's 2022 attack on Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers from the army, national guard, and border troops are finally coming home. The presidential office announced the homecoming of these soldiers, some of whom had been prisoners for over three years. The exchange encompassed those with severe medical conditions, including conditions like dystrophy, ulcers, vision problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
Interestingly, neither side provided the exact number of soldiers released during this exchange. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, shared heartwarming images of the returned soldiers reuniting with their families. The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed the exchange and posted pictures of the newly freed Russian soldiers.
The implicit agreement from the June 2 Istanbul talks aimed at a combined release of 1,000 prisoners of war from each side. The previous exchanges involved dozens to hundreds of soldiers. These humanitarian efforts indicate a potential thaw in the tense relationship between the two parties.
However, high-level political negotiations continue to stumble. Despite these humanitarian exchanges, President Putin of Russia remains adamant about refusing to sign a peace agreement with Ukrainian President Zelensky, doubting the legitimacy of Zelensky's government and the current Ukrainian administration under martial law. Such a stance has caused uncertainty regarding the enduring nature of any agreement resulting from ongoing talks.
Sources: ntv.de, lar/dpa/AFP
- Russia Invasion of Ukraine
- Ukraine-Russia Conflict
- Ukraine
- Prisoners
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- The community policy should include measures to support and reintegrate soldiers returning from war-and-conflicts, such as the recently exchanged prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, who may require employment assistance due to their medical conditions.
- General news outlets should report on the development of employment policies for the soldiers recently exchanged between Ukraine and Russia in light of the ongoing politics surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in order to keep the public informed about war-and-conflicts' impact on the socio-economic landscape.
