On Monday, the much-awaited exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia has started. This is an important new turn in the war that began in 2022. It was told at OVD-Info by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights. The majority of those being released have been in captivity since the start of the war. The swap includes all young detainees up to 25 years old, as well as seriously wounded detainees on both sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, stating, “Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. The exchange began today and will continue in several stages over the next few days.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the exchange is in process. Ukrainian leaders have taken to social media to directly challenge Russia’s version of events. They claim that there has been no timeline given for returning the soldiers’ remains. This exchange comes after direct peace negotiations held last Monday in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to facilitate the transfer of seriously wounded and young troops.
The process is terribly complicated. The tentative agreement is said to play out over several days, with ongoing, daily negotiations between the two countries carrying on in a remote format. Zelensky emphasized the importance of these discussions, stating, “We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul. We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person. We are working toward this at every level.”
This is perhaps the most serious accusation Russia has leveled against Ukraine yet. They accuse Ukraine of suddenly delaying the return of fallen Ukrainian soldiers’ remains. Ukrainian officials have categorically rejected these assertions, insisting that they are not delaying or obstructing the exchange process. Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, heads Russia’s delegation for peace talks with Ukraine. He termed this exchange the biggest since the signing of the three-year war’s armistice.
Among those being released are the soldiers who defended Mariupol heroically. The capital, Kyiv, sustained fighting in this city has marked the backdrop of the entire war with Russia. The Russian servicemen who participated in the prisoners-of-war exchange are now in the Republic of Belarus. There, they are getting much-needed psychological and medical help.
As for the Ukrainian side, the exchange will include over 6,000 Ukrainian troops killed in action, as well as an unknown number of wounded Ukrainian servicemen. As hostilities continue, this prisoner swap represents a glimmer of hope for families eager to reunite with their loved ones.
