Zelenskyy announces swap of 157 Ukrainian POWs

An exchange took place on Thursday, with 157 prisoners of war (POWs) returning home, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

"There was an exchange today, and I congratulate all the families who will soon welcome their loved ones home. This is very good. Some 157 Ukrainians have returned home," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv.

As Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel, “warriors from the Armed Forces, National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service have been returned,” these are “soldiers, sergeants, and officers, along with our defenders, civilians are also returning. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022.”

“Today's exchange came after a long pause, and it is critical that we were able to make it happen. I thank everyone who works to make these exchanges possible, as well as everyone on the frontline who contributes to expanding Ukraine's exchange fund. Without the determination of our warriors, such exchanges would be impossible. And thus every result achieved by our units is what also sustains the ability to bring Ukrainians home from Russia,” the President added.

He stressed that Ukraine will continue to work “to release our people from captivity.” “We must bring everyone back—and we certainly will. We are working on every name so that each family can finally welcome their loved ones home,” Zelenskyy said.

According to Russian media, Ukraine handed over 157 Russian prisoners. The UAE acted as an intermediary in the exchange, which took place on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.