Russia, Ukraine Exchange 84 Prisoners Each Ahead of Putin-Trump Summit

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 84 prisoners each, both countries confirmed on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of swaps that have seen hundreds of prisoners of war (POWs) released this year.

The exchange took place on the eve of a high-level summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday.

“I’m back in my homeland. Honestly, I never thought this would happen,” said Mykyta Kaliberda, 29, a Ukrainian marine who was among those freed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media that those released included “both military personnel and civilians,” some of whom had been “held by the Russians since 2014, 2016, and 2017.” He added that “defenders of Mariupol” were also part of the swap, referring to the strategic port city that fell to Russian forces in 2022 after a nearly three-month siege.

“My eldest son was in captivity for three years, four months, and two days. Thank God, we awaited him,” said Tetiana Turkoman, the mother of a soldier who fought in Mariupol. She explained that she had a “feeling” her son would be released and decided to attend.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been to the exchanges, hoping that my husband will be there. Artur! Artur Ivanik! My God!” cried Anastasia, calling out for her husband, who was due to return home in Thursday’s swap.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram that the United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange, and the released Russian personnel were being given “psychological and medical assistance.”

Large-scale prisoner exchanges remain the most concrete outcome of three rounds of peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul from May to July. In their most recent talks last month, both sides agreed to exchange 1,200 POWs each.

A Russian negotiator also disclosed that Moscow had offered to hand over to Kyiv the bodies of 3,000 killed soldiers.