According to consistent information, Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 205 prisoners of war.
May 15, 2026, 11:41 amMay 15, 2026, 11:41 am
It is the first step in a larger exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced on the X platform. “We will continue to fight for everyone who is still in captivity.”
Ukrainian prisoners of war released in April. (archive image)Image: keystone
The Defense Ministry in Moscow said the returning Russian soldiers were on Belarusian territory. It thanked the United Arab Emirates for mediating the operation.
The exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war was part of the agreement for a three-day ceasefire from May 9th to 11th, brokered by US President Donald Trump. The ceasefire primarily protected the military parade to commemorate the Russian World War on May 9th.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin then accused Ukraine of not submitting the lists of prisoners quickly enough. Zelensky rejected this and called on the US as a mediator to push for the promised exchange.
Meeting point: border between Ukraine and Belarus
In the more than four years of Russia’s war of aggression, both sides have exchanged thousands of prisoners. Most recently, this always took place on the border between Ukraine and Belarus. Because it is difficult to transport soldiers to and from the site, larger exchanges have previously been divided into several stages. (hkl/sda/dpa)