Full Breakdown
Ukraine and Russia Swap 193 Prisoners Each, Mediated by U.S. and UAE
4/25/2026, 5:55:13 AM
The Swap: 193 Prisoners Returned per Side
On 24 April 2026, Ukraine and Russia each released 193 captured personnel in a prisoner-of-war exchange. The United States and the United Arab Emirates facilitated the swap, which involved soldiers, border guards, police, National Guard members and staff of the State Special Transport Service. Ukrainian officials reported that some returnees were wounded, while others had faced criminal charges in Russia.
Recent Exchange History
Since the February 2022 invasion, Kyiv and Moscow have conducted more than 70 swaps, with the April 24 exchange identified as the 73rd. Earlier in April, a 175-for-175 swap was brokered by the UAE before the Orthodox Easter truce. In March, both sides released 500 prisoners each in a U.S.–UAE mediated two-day exchange. The latest swap is the fourth exchange recorded in 2026.
Key Actors
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his chief of staff Lieutenant-General Kyrylo Budanov led Ukraine’s side. The Russian Defense Ministry coordinated the Russian side. The United States and the United Arab Emirates acted as humanitarian mediators, arranging transport and logistics for the exchange.
Numbers and Scope
The swap moved 386 prisoners in total. UAE-led talks have overseen 22 rounds of exchanges, freeing 6,691 captives overall. Ukrainian returnees ranged from 24 to 60 years old, including younger servicemen born in the 2000s and several officers.
Official Statements
Zelenskiy thanked all partners, especially the United States and the UAE, for making the exchange possible. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the swap and said its troops are in Belarus receiving medical and psychological care. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters stressed that many returnees had been illegally detained in Chechnya and faced fabricated criminal cases.
Human Rights Concerns
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters labeled the Chechen detentions and fabricated charges as violations of the Geneva Convention, highlighting ongoing concerns about Russia’s treatment of prisoners of war.
On the Ground
In Kyiv, freed servicemen streamed off buses, draped in the national flag and visibly emotional. In Belarus, Russian soldiers underwent mental-health and medical evaluations before being sent to Russian Ministry of Defense facilities.
Conflicting Accounts
Sources report the total number of swaps as “more than 70,” “73,” and “22 rounds” of UAE-led talks, reflecting slight discrepancies in counting methods. Precise data on remaining captives still held remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is important that there are exchanges and that our people are returning home,” — Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine (Telegram)
- “humanitarian mediation efforts were carried out by the United Arab Emirates and the United States.” — Russian Defense Ministry (Telegram)
- “Most of those released were illegally held in Chechnya. Criminal cases were fabricated against them in violation of the Geneva Convention,” — Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukraine (Telegram)
- “We express our gratitude to the USA and the UAE for their assistance in organizing the exchange,” — Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters (Telegram)
Outlook
Ukrainian officials reaffirmed daily efforts to secure the release of all remaining captives, while mediation by the United States and the UAE is expected to continue. No formal cease-fire negotiations are currently underway, but the pattern of regular swaps suggests ongoing humanitarian dialogue.
