prisoner exchange Archives - Euromaidan Press

5 minute read

Russian War Crimes

“You torture Russians, too” UN says, as skeletal Ukrainian prisoners of war return from captivity

While Ukraine grants UN monitors full access to its POW facilities, Russian detention centers remain completely closed to outside observers. The condition of returning Ukrainian prisoners—marked by visible signs of torture and neglect—underscores mounting allegations of war crimes.

byYevheniia Martyniuk

ukraine wants just peace won't accept any price un envoy says permanent representative serhii kyslytsya unmfagovua kyslytsia ukraine's declared seeks end russian military aggression establish reported mission 16 2025 news

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine wants just peace, won’t accept “peace at any price,” UN envoy says

“Peace through strength is the only effective tool to stop the aggressor and ensure a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” Kyslytsya says.

byYuri Zoria

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Russia reportedly sentences seven Ukrainian POWs to 16-year terms in trial over Kursk incursion

Russia's use of its judiciary to legitimize prisoner detention and wartime propaganda.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine brings back Azovstal, Chornobyl defenders from Russian captivity

The successful operation brings the total number of freed Ukrainians to over 3,900.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine documents 177 POW executions by Russian forces as war crime videos surge

Russian forces increasingly shoot and share their execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war videos, with confirmed cases more than doubling in 2024 amid international inaction.

byOlena Mukhina

russia offers largest yet 630-for-630 pow swap ukraine 115 ukrainian prisoners war return late 2024 coordination headquarters treatment rfe/rl reported proposed prisoner exchange since war's beginning 27 suggesting between russian

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Russia offers largest yet 630-for-630 POW swap to Ukraine

The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson reportedly announced this, stating that Russia leaves it to Ukraine to decide which Russian military personnel to include in exchanges.

byYuri Zoria

Egyptian IT-student receives passport and draft notice for the Russian Army - captured by Ukraine

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine captures sole survivor of Russian assault – an Egyptian IT student

Ukrainian forces in Donetsk Oblast capture an Egyptian IT student who, after receiving a Russian passport, Russia conscripted and deployed to the front.

byBrendan Kelley

95 Ukrainian POWs return from Russian captivity, 19 October.

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

95 Ukrainian defenders return from Russian captivity, including Azov fighters and POWs facing life sentences

Among those released was Maksym Butkevych, a Ukrainian human rights activist and serviceman, who was captured near Luhansk in 2022 and sentenced to 13 years in Russia. The exchange also saw the return of Vladyslav Andrianov, an Azov fighter who survived the Olenivka prison massacre and faced a 25-year sentence in Russia.

byVira Kravchuk

ukrainian journalist viktoria roshchyna confirmed dead russian captivity victoria rfe/rl freelance who had previously worked other prominent media outlets

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna confirmed dead in Russian captivity

Roshchyna, a journalist working with RFE/RL, went missing in August 2023 while traveling to occupied territories and was slated for a prisoner exchange.

byYuri Zoria

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine swaps 103 POWs, including 23 Azovstal defenders from Azov Brigade

Ukraine exchanged POWs with Russia, bringing home 103 defenders, including 82 privates and sergeants, and 21 officers. The freed soldiers are from various military units, with many held captive since the all-out war's early days.

byYuri Zoria

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine returns 115 prisoners of war on Independence Day, first exchange after Kursk incursion

This POWs exchange includes 82 defenders of Mariupol, captured in the early months of the full-scale invasion. President Zelenskyy thanked military units for replenishing Ukraine's "exchange fund," enabling the return of 115 defenders.

byVira Kravchuk

4 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Frontline report: Russia initiates POW exchange talks after Ukraine captures 2,000+ Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast

Ukraine captured over 2,000 Russian soldiers in Kursk, prompting Russia to initiate prisoner exchange negotiations for the first time. Ukrainian Military Intelligence prioritizes the return of seriously wounded, ill individuals, and long-term captives, while Russian focus remains on conscripts.

byReporting from Ukraine

American political prisoners, including Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva returned to the US/ Navalny

6 minute read

International

Germany releases Russian hitman, enabling largest post-Cold War prisoner exchange

Germany's decision to release Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin convicted of a Chechen rebel murder in Berlin, proved crucial and ordered by Putin himself in facilitating a major West-Russia prisoner exchange, initially aimed at freeing Aleksei Navalny, but instead returning other high-profile political prisoners and dissidents in exchange for spies and cybercriminals.

byVira Kravchuk

ministry announces program swap convicted russian collaborators ukrainian defenders prisoners war return from captivity 25 june 2024 coordination headquarters treatment 2024-06-26-115920

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ministry announces program to swap convicted Russian collaborators for Ukrainian POWs

Ukraine has announced a project to exchange convicted collaborationists for Ukrainian POWs, publicizing info about Russian agents and allowing them to agree to these exchanges.

byYuri Zoria

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

95 Ukrainian prisoners of war return from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders

Many of the 95 Ukrainian servicemen released in the 17 July exchange are grappling with injuries and chronic illnesses, which sheds light on the harsh conditions in the Russian captivity, according to the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters.

byVira Kravchuk

Orban's Gambit: why Russia and Hungary secretly moved Ukrainian POWs to Budapest

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

UAE mediates new prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine

In a diplomatic breakthrough, Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 180 prisoners in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.

byMaria Tril

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine returns 90 more prisoners of war from Russian captivity, including defenders of Mariupol

Among the released Ukrainian servicemen are 59 defenders of Mariupol, particularly from Azovstal, and five National Guardsmen of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

byVira Kravchuk

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

ISW: Russia exploits POW swaps to undermine support for Ukraine

Russia's accusations against Ukraine are seen as a tactic to obscure its own war crimes and disrupt Ukrainian decision-making.

byOlena Mukhina

Destruction of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol by unrelenting Russian bombardment, March 2022. The Russo-Ukrainian War. Photo: Azov.org.ua

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukrainian military band members held captive in Russia for two years, says ministry

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy reports that members of three Ukrainian military bands are still being held captive by Russia after being captured in Mariupol in 2022.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Pope calls for prisoner exchange “all for all”; Ukraine responds: Russia doesn’t want it

Pope Francis calls for an "all for all" prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine in his traditional Easter address. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War responds that while they are ready, Russia is unwilling to repatriate its own people.

byYuri Zoria