Russia and Ukraine Conduct Fifth POW Exchange of the Year

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Russia and Ukraine Conduct Fifth POW Exchange of the Year

6 months ago

News sources:

AA 2

TRTGLOBAL

LEMONDE

Russia and Ukraine Conduct Fifth POW Exchange of the Year

Credited from: LEMONDE

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war from each side on May 6.
The swap is the fifth of its kind since the beginning of 2025.
The United Arab Emirates facilitated the exchange amid stalled US-led negotiations.

On May 6, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange involving 205 soldiers from each side. This marks the fifth such swap in 2025, reflecting ongoing tensions amidst over three years of conflict since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, according to aa and lemonde.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of the Ukrainian soldiers, some of whom had defended Mariupol during the early stages of the war, emphasizing that they comprised "young boys and men from almost all types and branches of the armed forces." The Russian Defense Ministry also issued a statement regarding the successful negotiations for the exchange, crediting the UAE for its mediation efforts, according to trtglobal and aa.

Following their release, the Russian servicemen are reportedly undergoing medical and psychological evaluations in Belarus before being transferred back to Russia for further treatment. This exchange occurs as US negotiations with both countries to resolve the conflict appear to have stalled, further adding complexity to the situation as Russia prepares for its significant May 9 parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, according to lemonde and trtglobal.