Back Home: Ukraine and Russia Swap Sick and Wounded Soldiers
Moscow and Kiev swap detainees
Here's a fresh take on the latest prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia:
The fifth phase of the prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia is underway. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media, countless soldiers are returning home from Russian captivity. These troops hail from the army, National Guard, and border forces.
According to the Office of Prisoner Affairs, this time around, the focus is on severely injured and unwell soldiers. Many of these warriors have been held captive for over three years. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange, accompanied by photographs of victorious soldiers waving Russian flags. As of now, neither side has disclosed the exact number of soldiers released.
An agreement to swap soldiers under 25 and those in critical condition was reached during talks in Turkey in early June. So far, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, roughly 900 prisoners have been exchanged.
In the background:The fifth phase of the prisoner exchange, orchestrated under the Istanbul agreement from June 2, 2025, facilitated the release and return of Ukrainian soldiers suffering from severe medical conditions like dystrophy, ulcers, vision problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases[1][2].
Though the exact figures remain undisclosed, this latest exchange follows the pattern set by the previous four, where approximately 1,000 prisoners of war were to be released by each side, prioritizing those severely injured or ill, as well as young soldiers under the age of 25[1][2][4]. The Coordination Headquarters for treating prisoners of war highlighted that many of the soldiers returned bore serious medical complications aggravated by their treatment in captivity and fought in significant battle zones such as Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, and others[2].
Emotions run deep as these soldiers are met with heartfelt embraces, tears, and phone calls to loved ones on their homecoming[1][2][4].
This wave of prisoner exchanges is part of a broader effort, the first phase of which began in June 2025, aiming to return as many prisoners of war as possible, particularly those in the most vulnerable health conditions[5]. The ongoing process demonstrates a humanitarian effort amidst ongoing hostilities, with both sides committed to further exchanges as per the Istanbul deal, aimed at alleviating the suffering of prisoners of war and wounded soldiers on both sides[1][2].
- Conflict in Ukraine
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Prisoners
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Despite ongoing conflicts and politics between Ukraine and Russia, both countries have implemented a community policy for prisoner swaps, focusing on the release of severely injured and unwell soldiers in their fifth phase of exchanges.
- The latest general news about the Ukrainian-Russian prisoner exchange also includes updates on the employment policy for returning soldiers, ensuring support and care for soldiers who bear serious medical complications aggravated by their treatment in captivity.
