KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine and Russia on Thursday carried out their first prisoner exchange in months, swapping at least 157 captives each, officials from both countries said, as US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi continued in an effort to end the nearly four-year war.
The exchange, mediated by the United States and the United Arab Emirates, was the first since October and followed a prolonged pause.
Prisoner swaps remain one of the few areas of direct cooperation between the two sides since the Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had handed over 157 Ukrainian servicemen and received 157 Russian soldiers in return.
It added that three Russian civilians from the Kursk region were also released and would be returned home.
Ukraine confirmed the swap and said those freed included soldiers and civilians.
Zelensky hails return of captives
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the exchange came after a long hiatus and thanked those involved in securing the release.
“Today’s exchange came after a long pause, and it is critical that we were able to make it happen,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
“We must return and will definitely return everyone.”
Images posted by the president showed freed Ukrainians wrapped in national flags, smiling as snow fell.
Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said the group included seven civilians and others who had been convicted by Russian courts.
Zelensky’s aide, Kyrylo Budanov, said 19 of those released had been illegally sentenced, including 15 given life terms.
Russia confirms mediators’ role
Russia’s defence ministry said the United States and the United Arab Emirates acted as mediators.
It said the returned Russian servicemen were in Belarus receiving medical and psychological assistance before being transferred to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The ministry said the three civilians released were residents of Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise cross-border incursion in 2024.
Talks in Abu Dhabi
The exchange took place during three-way talks involving Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations in Abu Dhabi.
A Ukrainian spokesperson said the second day of discussions concluded on Thursday without providing details.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the delegations had agreed to exchange a total of 314 prisoners of war and described the talks as “detailed and productive”.
“While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results,” Witkoff said in a post on X.
Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, earlier described the first day of talks as “meaningful and productive”.
Russia’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, said there had been progress and “positive movement forward”.
