Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap likely postponed amid list disputes
Photo: A prisoner swap was scheduled for June 7 as part of the Istanbul agreements (illustrative photo by Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine).
Another stage of the prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia will likely be postponed. Earlier reports said the exchange was scheduled to start on June 7, according to RBC-Ukraine sources.
Why the prisoner swap did not start on June 7
Today, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, accused Ukraine of allegedly postponing the exchange. He said Russia handed over lists of 640 people. They also delivered over 1,000 bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers to the border in Russia's Bryansk region.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War clarified that these claims are false. Specifically, Russia submitted lists that violated the previously agreed-upon approach. Russia also decided to repatriate bodies unilaterally, ignoring agreed procedures.
An RBC-Ukraine source said the Ukrainian side insists the exchange must not be "blind." It must follow the agreed-upon lists. Russia refuses, although it had previously agreed and is now pressuring Ukraine.
"Therefore, our side is now forming lists and demanding this from them. The exchange is being carefully prepared, but due to manipulations on Russia's side, it will most likely be postponed," the source added.
There were also manipulations during the last exchange. Despite agreements on certain categories, Russia lied. For example, Ukraine handed over collaborators, which was even documented in bloggers' videos. Ukraine is expected to receive civilians to protect them from criminal prosecution in Russia. Instead, Russia returned people they planned to deport anyway. They simply filled the lists with other individuals.
What the new prisoner swap should look like
At talks in Istanbul on June 2, the sides agreed on an all-for-all formula. It includes releasing the severely wounded, sick, and young soldiers aged 18 to 25.
The exchange is expected to involve exactly a 1,000-for-1,000 format. There might also be another round of exchanging 200 for 200. Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, confirmed this new exchange would be the largest since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
When the new prisoner swap was planned to start
This week, reports said Russia was ready to hand over 500 people on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8. Ukraine planned to return the same number of prisoners.
Moscow clarified that the process could start on June 7, 8, or 9. The total exchange under consideration is a 1,200-for-1,200 format.
As a reminder, large-scale prisoner swaps began after the first round of direct talks in Türkiye on May 16. Then, the sides agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap over three days — from May 23 to 25.
Following that exchange, Ukraine returned 1,000 people. They included fighters from the Navy, Air Assault Forces, National Guard, Territorial Defense Forces, Border Service, and 120 civilian detainees. Notably, Russia handed over prisoners held for over three years, including defenders of Mariupol. It was also the first time military personnel from 46 units were freed, many of whom had never been returned before.
