Ukraine conducts new prisoner swap with Russia on Independence Day

Today, our people are coming home — warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and civilians. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022," he said.

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine also welcomed home journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, who was abducted in the Kyiv region in March 2022.

"Exchanges continue. And this is possible thanks to our warriors, who replenish the 'exchange fund' for Ukraine; to our team, which works every day; and to our partners who help. We are grateful to the UAE for its assistance. I thank everyone whose work makes it possible for our people to return home," the Ukrainian President added.

Earlier today, Russian Telegram channels reported that Moscow and Kyiv exchanged 146 POWs each.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the latest round of exchanges took place with UAE mediation.

The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the new combined exchange returned both military personnel and civilians.

Under agreements reached in Istanbul, Ukrainian soldiers returned home today. In the framework of the 68th exchange, eight civilian Ukrainians were also released.

Among the freed soldiers were representatives from nearly all defense forces:

• Air Assault Forces;
• Air Force;
• Navy;
• Territorial Defense Forces;
• National Guard;
• State Border Guard Service;

All released personnel belong to the rank-and-file and sergeant ranks. Nearly all were held as POWs for over three years.

The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine noted that the returning soldiers defended Mariupol and the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Sumy directions. Some also protected the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Others were captured in temporarily occupied territories or Crimea.

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

Photo: Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange on August 24

"Finally, two Ukrainian journalists are free: Dmytro Khilyuk and Mark Kaliush. They were illegally detained as POWs by Russian forces in 2022 and 2023," the intelligence service added.

Among the freed civilians is medic Serhiy Kovalov from the Hospitallers Battalion, who saved the lives of defenders and civilians during the siege of the Azovstal plant. Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who refused to collaborate with Russians, also returns home.

"We express our gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for helping organize the return of Ukrainian civilians," the intelligence service said.

The freed Ukrainians will receive full medical support. Each will undergo medical examinations and necessary treatment. They will also receive state benefits, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society after prolonged captivity.

Ukraine-Russia POW exchanges

According to the latest data, more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been returned under recent Istanbul agreements.

During the first round of talks in Istanbul in May, Ukraine and Russia agreed on a large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange.

The agreement was implemented in three stages from May 23 to 25, marking one of the largest exchanges since the start of the full-scale war.

On June 2, during the second round of talks in Türkiye, both sides agreed to exchange all severely wounded, seriously ill, and POWs aged 18 to 25.

Since early June, nine exchanges have been carried out under this agreement. The tenth occurred during preparations for a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

President Zelenskyy reported that on August 14, 84 POWs returned home in the latest exchange.