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160 Ukrainian POWs released from Russian captivity in latest major exchange
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Ukraine and Russia conducted a major prisoner of war exchange on June 26, with 160 POWs released from each side, confirmed by both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian Defense Ministry.
- Zelensky emphasized the importance of returning all captives, both military and civilians, noting that those released had been held by Russia since 2022.
- This exchange follows a previous swap on June 5, where 185 Ukrainian POWs were returned, and comes amid stalled U.S.-initiated peace talks and waning U.S. interest in the conflict.
- Among the released Ukrainian POWs are soldiers who defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, representing various branches including the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guards.
- Regular POW exchanges remain one of the few ongoing communication channels between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
