Ukraine preparing new prisoner swaps, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com_zelenskyy.official)
Ukraine is preparing new prisoner exchanges with Russia. The Coordination Headquarters has already processed the necessary documents and lists for the swaps, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He spoke about the results of a meeting with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
"We discussed in detail the results of the exchanges that have already taken place this year, as well as preparations for upcoming exchanges. We hope that in the near future we will be able to welcome home Ukrainians who are currently in captivity in Russia and in temporarily occupied territories," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the Coordination Headquarters has prepared all necessary documents and lists for the exchange and remains in constant contact with Russia on these humanitarian issues.
"We remember all our people who remain in Russian captivity – both military personnel and civilians. Particular attention is given to those who were taken captive even before the start of the full-scale invasion," the President emphasized.
He added that the goal is to bring all Ukrainians home from captivity. The head of state noted that each name is being carefully verified, as some individuals are listed as missing but are in fact being held in camps in Russia.
"It is important to do everything possible to ensure progress across all categories of prisoners: journalists, city mayors and community leaders, energy workers, our warriors – Azov fighters, marines, paratroopers, and all others for whom the exchange process is especially difficult," Zelenskyy stated.
Defense Intelligence representative Andrii Yusov said Ukraine had planned to return a larger number of people during the Easter exchange, but Russia refused.
In February, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is currently holding up to 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war. At the same time, Ukraine holds around 4,000 captured Russian soldiers.
In addition, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that more than 95% of Ukrainians held in Russian captivity are subjected to systematic torture, and as of the end of 2025, 337 Ukrainian POWs had been deliberately and brutally executed by Russian forces.
