prisoner exchange Archives - Euromaidan Press

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

“I counted every single day”: 2025 Ukrainian POWs endured three years of Russian captivity — and finally came back home

185 soldiers and 20 civilians return from torture and darkness, greeted by tears, smiles, and the bitter weight of friends still imprisoned.

byOlena Mukhina

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Kherson’s mayor who survives dog attacks and mock executions, reveals how he stayed loyal to his homeland in Russian captivity

While Russia presented collaboration as survival, Mykolaienko's refused to do it, despite enduring torture three times per day.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Crimean spy case prisoner beats death odds after seven-year Russian ordeal

Most Ukrainian face electric shock torture and starvation in Russian captivity.

byOlena Mukhina

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Independence Day swap returns Ukrainian defenders from thousands who are still captive in Russia

These soldiers defended locations that defined Ukraine's resistance.

byOlena Mukhina

Prisoner exchange on 4 July brings home Ukrainian defenders some of whom spent over three years in Russian captivity.

4 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Seriously wounded Ukrainian POWs return home from Russian captivity filled with torture

The exchange on 4 July included soldiers captured during Mariupol siege in 2022 who spent over three years in Russian custody.

byVira Kravchuk

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Some of these defenders were just 21 when captured in Mariupol—three years later they step back onto Ukrainian soil

One was guarding Chornobyl. Another fought in Sumy.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

He endured what most wouldn’t survive: Ukraine returns its 60-year old warrior from Russian captivity

He spent years in a Russian cell and still made it back.

byOlena Mukhina

Seriously ill and wounded Ukrainian defenders return home after years in Russian captivity in a new prisoner exchange on 19 June that resulted from 2 June Istanbul peace talks.

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

New prisoner exchange of seriously wounded: Ukrainian soldier celebrates birthday upon release from Russian captivity

All released personnel suffered from severe medical conditions including weight loss, dystrophy, ulcers, vision and digestive problems and cardiovascular diseases.

byVira Kravchuk

zelenskyy installs ex-defense minister umierov run security council rustem umerov defense ukraine man once charge now oversees war tech arms deals talks news ukrainian reports

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Umerov: Ukraine managed to return over 6,000 bodies of the dead, the fight for prisoners is ahead

Over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers returned home following the completion of Istanbul agreement implementation, marking the end of this repatriation stage and the beginning of prisoner exchange efforts, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

byMaria Tril

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and US President Donald Trump (right).

4 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Putin “very nicely” wished Trump Happy Birthday over phone. They discussed Iran-Israel, Ukraine deferred

Putin told Trump that the Israel-Iran conflict should end, prompting the US leader to respond that "his war in Ukraine should also come to an end."

byVira Kravchuk

1 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine begins long work of identification bodies of fallen soldiers returned from Russia

Ukraine receives 1,200 more fallen soldiers' bodies under Istanbul agreement. Forensic teams begin identification process to return dignity to defenders.

byOlena Mukhina

ukraine conducts fourth pow swap week returns defenders held since 2022 ukrainian service members returned russian captivity 14 2025 ukraine’s coordination headquarters treatment prisoners war latest group includes wounded ill

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine conducts fourth POW swap in a week, returns defenders held since 2022

The latest group includes wounded and ill personnel captured during major battles.

byYuri Zoria

Russo-Ukrainian-war-daily-review-12 June

4 minute read

Daily review

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1205: Rubio congratulates Russia on national day as Russian war losses surpass one million

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “the United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future." Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said it was "unpleasant" for him to read these public congratulations as he recently witnessed "Russian terror" in Kherson.

byEuromaidan Press Staff

Ukraine secures release of severely wounded prisoners of war on 12 June.

4 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

New major Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap prioritizes ill, wounded soldiers over numbers

The freed defenders include Mariupol veterans held for over three years and those who were considered missing in action.

byVira Kravchuk

ukraine says russia ignoring ceasefire proposal giving only ultimatums escalating attacks ukrainian foreign minister andrii sybiha syria 2024 sybiha-syria after proposing humanitarian steps recently istanbul kyiv stayed silent has received

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine says Russia ignoring ceasefire proposal, giving only ultimatums and escalating attacks

After proposing a ceasefire and humanitarian steps recently in Istanbul, Kyiv says Russia stayed silent.

byYuri Zoria

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

US repeats Ukraine-Russia talks mantra despite Russia’s rejection of ceasefires

In a call with the French FM, US State Secretary Rubio again brings up direct talks and diplomatic efforts to end the Russo-Ukrainian war.

byYuri Zoria

4 minute read

Daily review

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1197: Trump holds phone call with Putin, who threatens retaliation for devastating attack on airfields

Ukraine's Security Service revealed details of its surprise "Spiderweb" drone operation that destroyed 41 Russian aircraft using AI-guided technology that continued missions even after communication was severed in some cases. Meanwhile, Trump's envoy Kellogg cautioned that these attacks push the war toward dangerous escalation. However, Kremlin officials publicly state that Russia seeks the “complete destruction” of Ukraine, signaling Moscow’s lack of interest in genuine peace negotiations.

byEuromaidan Press Staff

On 6 May, Ukraine returned 205 prisoners of war (POWs) home.

3 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine and Russia to exchange prisoners of war this weekend — only result of Istanbul peace talks

The exchange is expected to involve 1,200 prisoners from each side.

byVira Kravchuk

2 minute read

Latest news Ukraine

Ukraine, Russia agree to exchange 6,000 bodies at Istanbul talks that againt fail to secure ceasefire

Russia is one more time refused to stop hostilities in Ukraine, apparently counting on a summer offensive on Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

byOlena Mukhina

More than half of the 120 civilians Russia returned to Ukraine in the 23-25 May POW exchange were individuals convicted of theft and other non-war crimes who had completed their sentences but were trapped in deportation centers.

8 minute read

Russian Aggression

Russia sends ordinary criminals unrelated to war for exchanges instead of soldiers or activists

Ukraine claims it had limited ability to influence the composition of exchange lists. That's why among the 120 civilians returned in the recent three-day exchange, many were individuals who had lived and worked in Russia before being convicted of non-war crimes, rather than Ukrainians who remain in captivity due to war since 2022 or even 2014.

byVira Kravchuk