prisoner exchange Archives - Euromaidan Press

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with US envoy Steve Witkoff as Jared Kushner looks on, in Ireland on 12 November 2026

4 minute read

Latest news

The war’s largest POW exchange is coming, Zelenskyy says after meeting Witkoff and Kushner. Russia won’t discuss sparing the grid

Ukraine’s negotiators pushed for calm at sea and a pause in strikes on power plants, and Moscow’s team answered that it had no permission to discuss either.

byYuri Zoria

Iuliia Osmolovska, Director of the Kyiv office of the international think tank GLOBSEC. Source: Iuliia Osmolovska

11 minute read

Russo-Ukrainian war 2022-2026

Why do Abu Dhabi talks resume after nine-month pause? Washington needs progress before new Congress asks questions in January, diplomat says

A Ukrainian analyst calls the Abu Dhabi talks an imitation of peace, no different from February.

byOlena Mukhina

Russian captives in Ukrainian captivity. Source: Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War

2 minute read

Latest news

Russia recruits 45,959 foreigners to fight against Ukraine — but doesn’t take a single one back from captivity, Kyiv says

Russia has pulled fighters from 151 countries into its war on Ukraine.

byOlena Mukhina

Ukrainian, European, and US delegations meet before the trilateral talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 10 November 2026

3 minute read

Latest news

Russia claimed in Abu Dhabi to hold Donbas land Ukraine controls, and the US confirmed Kyiv’s picture, Zelenskyy says

Day two ended with a large prisoner exchange agreed, Arakhamia says. US envoys go to Putin in Moscow next, then to Zelenskyy in Dublin.

byTaisiia Vivdych

Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians return home during a prisoner exchange with Russia on 23 October 2026. Photo: Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

4 minute read

Latest news

Ukraine frees 270 from Russian captivity in “historic” prisoner swap, including 5 Olenivka survivors and American teacher Stephen Hubbard

The latest exchange returned 261 military personnel and nine civilians. Some had been held since 2018, while many others were captured during the defense of Mariupol in 2022.

byBenjamin Murdoch

two officers 101 soldiers—ukraine's newest homecoming russian cells · post freed ukrainian defender raises fist among fellow released captives wrapped national flags 19 2026 4 pow exchange sbu5199714552638020898 ukraine news

4 minute read

Latest news

Two officers, 101 soldiers—Ukraine’s newest homecoming from Russian cells

The group spans four years of the war, from the fall of Mariupol to captures made only months ago.

byYuri Zoria

Chechen volunteers fighting on Ukraine’s side during training.

5 minute read

Latest news

Ukraine still hands Kremlin opponents back to Russia—even now

Ukraine never stopped handing Kremlin opponents to Russia and its own prisoner swaps, human rights defender says.

byTaisiia Vivdych

Ukranian POW returning from Russian captivity, 5 February 2026. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

2 minute read

Latest news

Russia starves most Ukrainian POWs, then “fattens” a few for exchange so they look normal, Ukrainian official says

Ukraine's intelligence confirms Russia is forming battalions from Ukrainian POWs and keeps cells where it feeds up prisoners.

byOlena Mukhina

after four years russian captivity 205 ukrainian defenders home first stage 1000-for-1000 exchange · post freed pose naval ensign marine unit flags release 15 2026 5204075056839988087 ukraine news reports

3 minute read

Latest news

After four years in Russian captivity, 205 Ukrainian defenders are home in the first stage of a 1000-for-1000 exchange

Most of those freed were taken at Mariupol in 2022; the oldest is 62, the youngest 21. The exchange was mediated by the US and the UAE.

byYuri Zoria

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

3 minute read

Latest news

Russia tried to swap abducted Ukrainian children like POWs, Sybiha reveals

Sybiha rejects Russia's bid to swap abducted Ukrainian children for POWs. Only 2,000 of 20,000 home.

byAlexander Moisseenko

Ukrainian soldiers during the prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow on 5 March 2026. Source: The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

2 minute read

Latest news

Talks continue on Trump-brokered prisoner exchange with Russia after Putin claimed that Kyiv was not ready for swap

Russia announced a ceasefire for 8–9 May — its own parade dates. Ukraine proposed starting earlier, on the night of 6 May. Russia violated it.

byOlena Mukhina

Kateryna's husband Serhii in a bus on the way to Ukraine. Source: Screenshot

2 minute read

Latest news

First glimpse in years— wife barely recognizes Ukrainian soldier after weight loss in Russia’s captivity

The family reunited again.

byOlena Mukhina

2 minute read

Latest news

Ukraine eyes Easter prisoner swap as Budanov says negotiations are running daily

Since the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine has brought 8,669 prisoners home from Russia. Kyrylo Budanov wants to add to that number on 12 April — Orthodox Easter — and says everything necessary is being done to make it happen.

byMaria Tril

iran hit abu dhabi peace talks — zelenskyy says next ukraine-russia-us round still days away · post ukrainian president volodymyr 14 2026 photo_2026 -02-14_22-11-42 us-pushed trilateral remains track despite us-iran

4 minute read

Latest news

Iran hit Abu Dhabi but not the peace talks — Kyiv says the next Ukraine-Russia-US round is still days away

The Ukrainian president says the 5-6 March trilateral is on track — he prefers Geneva, though Austria, the Vatican, or Turkey are also options if Russia wants a neutral venue.

byYuri Zoria

157 ukrainians return russian captivity first pow swap since 2025 · post ukrainian prisoners war freed during exchange four months 5 2026 large_whats_app_image_2026_02_05_at_15_06_45_2_494a0c302f ukraine news reports

3 minute read

Latest news

157 Ukrainians return from Russian captivity in first POW swap since October 2025 (PHOTOS)

Among those freed are wounded servicemembers from across Ukraine's military branches, with 139 of the released prisoners held in Russian captivity since 2022.

byYuri Zoria

Barbed wire and watchtower at a prison facility. Freed Ukrainian civilians describe systematic torture in Russian detention centers from Donetsk to Siberia.

6 minute read

Latest news

Russia “fattens up” tortured prisoners before exchanges to hide years of abuse, freed civilians say

Prisoners washed, fed, and warned not to bruise themselves—then traded back to Ukraine.

byMaxim Volovich

2 minute read

Latest news

“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

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

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

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

The war’s largest POW exchange is coming, Zelenskyy says after meeting Witkoff and Kushner. Russia won’t discuss sparing the grid

Why do Abu Dhabi talks resume after nine-month pause? Washington needs progress before new Congress asks questions in January, diplomat says

Russia recruits 45,959 foreigners to fight against Ukraine — but doesn’t take a single one back from captivity, Kyiv says

Russia claimed in Abu Dhabi to hold Donbas land Ukraine controls, and the US confirmed Kyiv’s picture, Zelenskyy says

Ukraine frees 270 from Russian captivity in “historic” prisoner swap, including 5 Olenivka survivors and American teacher Stephen Hubbard

Two officers, 101 soldiers—Ukraine’s newest homecoming from Russian cells

Ukraine still hands Kremlin opponents back to Russia—even now

Russia starves most Ukrainian POWs, then “fattens” a few for exchange so they look normal, Ukrainian official says

After four years in Russian captivity, 205 Ukrainian defenders are home in the first stage of a 1000-for-1000 exchange

Russia tried to swap abducted Ukrainian children like POWs, Sybiha reveals

Talks continue on Trump-brokered prisoner exchange with Russia after Putin claimed that Kyiv was not ready for swap

First glimpse in years— wife barely recognizes Ukrainian soldier after weight loss in Russia’s captivity

Ukraine eyes Easter prisoner swap as Budanov says negotiations are running daily

Iran hit Abu Dhabi but not the peace talks — Kyiv says the next Ukraine-Russia-US round is still days away

157 Ukrainians return from Russian captivity in first POW swap since October 2025 (PHOTOS)

Russia “fattens up” tortured prisoners before exchanges to hide years of abuse, freed civilians say

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

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

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

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

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