Ukraine and Russia Prepare for Largest Prisoner Swap Amid War

Ukraine and Russia are reportedly conducting a significant prisoner swap following an agreement reached last week to exchange 1,000 detainees from each side amid ongoing cease-fire discussions.

A major prisoner exchange was announced on social media, indicating that the process was either about to commence or was already underway, though specific details remained limited.

If finalized, this swap would represent the largest exchange of prisoners since the conflict began, potentially fostering trust between the two countries that have struggled to reach a lasting temporary cease-fire.

While Kyiv and its allies have advocated for an unconditional 30-day cease-fire, Moscow insists on Ukraine withdrawing from certain territories as a condition, a demand rejected by Ukrainian officials.

Delegations from both nations met in Turkey last week—their first encounter since the conflict's early stages—but made little headway beyond agreeing to proceed with the prisoner exchange.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that both parties submitted lists of 1,000 prisoners for release, calling the agreement the sole tangible outcome from the recent talks and emphasizing ongoing efforts to implement it.