• Russia and Ukraine exchanged 146 prisoners of war each on August 24, 2025.
• The swap was facilitated by diplomatic efforts from the United Arab Emirates.
• Both sides confirmed the exchange but details were minimal from Ukraine.
• Freed servicemen are receiving care in Belarus, while eight Russian citizens from Kursk were returned.
• This exchange reflects ongoing diplomatic negotiations amid continued conflict.

On August 24, 2025, Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 146 prisoners of war as part of a mediation effort by the United Arab Emirates, according to the Russian Defense Ministry and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that most of the released individuals had been in captivity since the commencement of the war in 2022, posting images of returning prisoners on his social media account. He thanked the UAE for its crucial role in the negotiations, as well as confirming the exchange figures through Reuters and Channel News Asia.

In addition to the prisoners, a total of eight Russian citizens from the Kursk region were returned to Moscow. The Russian Ministry noted that the freed servicemen are receiving necessary psychological and medical care in Belarus, reflecting ongoing humanitarian considerations amid the conflict according to Reuters and AA.

This latest prisoner exchange highlights one of the few areas of cooperation amid a backdrop of conflict. It follows three rounds of talks in Turkey earlier this year, which aimed to facilitate further agreements, according to statements from both sides and covered by Al Jazeera.