The Latest: Prisoner Exchange and Body Repatriation Between Ukraine and Russia
Let's Get Down to Brass Tacks
Russia Delivered 6,000 Corpses of Deceased Soldiers; Open to Providing More
Following an agreement in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, Ukraine and Russia have been swapping prisoners of war and repatriating fallen soldiers' remains. These exchanges are part of an ongoing process to end hostilities.
Prisoner Swap Deets
- Soldier Count: Ukraine hasn't disclosed the exact number of soldiers in each exchange. However, the focus is on releasing severely wounded, critically ill soldiers, and those under 25 years old[1][2][3].
- Battlefield Backdrop: Many of the freed soldiers were captured during combat in regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia[1][2]. Some have been held captive for over three years now.
Body Repatriation
- Understood Agreement: Russia has committed to returning the remains of up to 6,000 Ukrainian servicemen[1].
- Body Locations: The remains are to be returned from locations along the frontlines and Russian-held territories, though specifics aren't released[4].
Progress Report
- The prisoner exchanges are ongoing, with President Volodymyr Zelensky optimistic that the process will be finished by June 20 or 21[1].
- While prisoner swaps are happening, no significant political progress towards ending the war has been made[3].
[1] Reuters, Ukraine calls off offensive as Russia agrees prisoner swap deal, June 2, 2025. [2] Associated Press, Ukraine's Defense Ministry: More than 6,000 soldiers were captured by Russia, June 3, 2025. [3] The Washington Post, Russia and Ukraine complete fifth prisoner exchange in a week, June 9, 2025. [4] BBC News, Russia hands over 2,239 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, June 12, 2025.
The ongoing prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia are not only confined to war-and-conflicts reports, but also shed light on the politics involved in the situation. The repatriation of fallen soldiers' remains is a crucial aspect of these exchanges, highlighting a general-news topic that also includes crime-and-justice perspectives, as critically ill and severely wounded soldiers are being prioritized in the exchange process.
