In a rare show of cooperation, Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 175 prisoners of war on Wednesday.
This is one of the largest prisoner swaps since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago.
According to Euronews, the exchange included servicemen captured in fierce battles across Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and even Kursk.
Upon arrival at the northern border, the released Ukrainian soldiers were transported to a hospital in Chernihiv, where family members were waiting in emotional reunions.
"All of them will immediately receive the necessary medical and psychological assistance," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
President Zelenskyy welcomed the exchange as more than a humanitarian gesture, describing it as a confidence-building measure that could lay the groundwork for broader peace negotiations.
"Releasing all prisoners of war and captured civilians would be a crucial step toward peace," he said, again advocating for an 'all-for-all' exchange—a proposal to release all captives from both sides.
The Ukrainian leader also extended his gratitude to international partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, which played a mediating role in facilitating the swap.
Wounded Soldiers Returned Separately
In a parallel act, Russia released 22 severely wounded Ukrainian captives, which Moscow called a "goodwill gesture."
Zelenskyy clarified that these soldiers were returned through a separate negotiation channel, outside the framework of the main exchange.
The high-profile exchange comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump held back-to-back calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy to discuss potential ceasefire conditions.
Both sides have since agreed to a limited ceasefire, though talks are ongoing and the situation remains fragile.
