Ukraine and Russia Begin Biggest Wartime Exchange of Prisoners

Ukrainian, American and Russian delegates meet for Ukraine-Russia peace talks at the office of Turkish President, in an image provided by Turkish Foreign Ministry, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16. — Ukrainian, American and Russian delegates meet for Ukraine-Russia peace talks at the office of Turkish President, in an image provided by Turkish Foreign Ministry, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16.
Photographer: Arda Kucukkaya/Turkish Foreign Ministry/Getty Images

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By Aliaksandr Kudrytski

May 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM UTC

Updated on

May 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM UTC

Ukraine and Russia began the biggest prisoner exchange since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, even as Moscow resists efforts for a ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine took in 390 people from captivity in Russia a week after the two sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners each in talks in Istanbul. More groups of released prisoners of war are expected to arrive on Saturday and Sunday.