Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the completion of body repatriation under the Istanbul agreements, with over 6,000 bodies of the fallen returned to Ukrainian territory.
According to Umerov’s social media statement, 16 June marked the final stage of body repatriation in this format. The minister reports that since last week, when the Istanbul agreements began implementation, Ukraine managed to return over 6,000 bodies.
“All of them undergo identification. Because behind each one is a name, a life, a family waiting for an answer,” Umerov said. “I thank everyone who daily did this difficult but necessary work. We do not stop. Ahead is the next stage: we continue the fight for the return of prisoners. We return. We remember…”
The repatriation follows negotiations held in Istanbul on 2 June, where Ukraine and Russia agreed on a “6,000 for 6,000” exchange of fallen soldiers’ bodies. The Ukrainian and Russian delegations also reached an agreement on an “all for all” exchange of severely wounded and young military personnel aged 18 to 25.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said that of the 6,000 military bodies Russia intended to transfer to Ukraine, only 15% were identified.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine has returned 15,801 bodies of the fallen as of 16 June. This figure includes 9,744 bodies as of May 2025, plus five stages of repatriations in June.
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US President Donald Trump disclosed details of a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sharing the information through his Truth Social platform.
Their previous call occurred on 4 June , when Trump said they discussed Ukrainian Spiderweb drone operation targeting Russian aircraft and “various other attacks happening from both sides.” Trump characterized that earlier exchange as “a good conversation, but not the conversation that will lead to immediate peace,” noting that Putin “said, and very decisively, that he would have to respond to the recent attack on airfields.”
According to Trump, Putin initiated the call to congratulate him on his birthday. The conversation covered multiple international issues, with Iran featuring prominently in their discussions. Trump indicated that Putin “knows this country very well,” suggesting the Russian leader’s familiarity with Iranian affairs influenced their dialogue.
Earlier, Putin’s assistant Yuri Ushakov told Russian state agency TASS that both leaders discussed the Israel-Iran conflict extensively, with Putin offering Russia as a mediator between the countries while condemning Israeli actions. Trump assessed the situation between the nations as “alarming” but noted the effectiveness of Israeli strikes against Iran.
Putin surprised Trump with a phone call wishing him "nicely" a happy birthday on 14 June.
The 50-minute conversation covered Iran and Middle East tensions, with Trump saying substantial Russia-Ukraine discussions are planned for next week.
The US President revealed that while Russia and Ukraine were discussed, these topics received limited attention during this particular call.
“We talked at length. We spent much less time talking about Russia and Ukraine, but that will be next week,” Trump stated, indicating future discussions on the conflict are planned.
Trump disclosed that Putin is also coordinating a prisoner exchange involving “a large number of prisoners” from both sides, describing the exchange as imminent.
Ukraine and Russia conducted a series of prisoner exchanges in June 2025, with the fourth swap occurring on 14 June, marking intense ongoing efforts to repatriate captives following an agreement reached during talks in Istanbul on 2 June. These exchanges primarily focus on releasing severely wounded, seriously ill soldiers, and military personnel aged 18 to 25, many of whom have been held since 2022.
Both leaders addressed peace negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, with Putin declaring that Russia is ready to continue dialogue with Ukraine after 22 June, according to Ushakov. Trump confirmed his desire for the quickest possible end to the war in Ukraine.
However, on 15 June, shortly after Putin congratulated Trump on his birthday during a phone call, Russia launched its largest missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, targeting critical energy and agricultural infrastructure. The strike hit Kremenchuk Thermal Power Plant and oil refinery, vital for Ukraine’s energy and defense systems.
The assault, involving nearly 200 missiles and drones, caused around 30 explosions and fires that burned for hours, damaging residential buildings and vehicles but reportedly causing no casualties due to effective Ukrainian air defenses that intercepted most of the attack.
On his birthday, Trump also attended a military parade in Washington, D.C., featuring over 6,000 troops, 128 tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and a 21-gun salute, as part of the US Army’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Despite the grandeur, attendance was much lower than expected, and the parade occurred amid widespread protests nationwide under the “No Kings” movement, denouncing Trump’s perceived authoritarianism and criticizing the parade as an extravagant, ego-driven display amid ongoing political and social divisions.
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As part of a painful but vital repatriation process, Ukraine has reportedly received another 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers from Russia, part of an agreement brokered in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (CHTPW) announces.
The return is part of an agreement reached in Istanbul on 2 June, which provides for the exchange of 6,000 bodies on each side. No other deal was reached at the talks regarding a ceasefire or the end of the war.
This exchange follows two earlier repatriations on 13 June and 11 June, during which 1,200 and 1,212 bodies, respectively, were returned to Ukraine.
According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, this exchange symbolizes a necessary step toward restoring dignity to fallen defenders.
“An agreement was reached to return 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers in exchange for 6,000,” he explains.
In the coming days, Ukrainian law enforcement, forensic teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other agencies will conduct examinations and procedures to return names to those unidentified.
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Ukraine conducted another prisoner swap with Russia, returning home dozens of wounded, ill, and young defenders, many of whom had been held since 2022. Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and POW HQ did not specify the exact number of POWs returned in this exchange. One of the photos shows at least 41 people.
This comes as US President Donald Trump pushes for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, allegedly to end the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. On 2 June, the second round of low-level negotiations took place in Türkiye, yielding no progress on a ceasefire. Russia instead reiterated its maximalist demands, effectively amounting to Ukrainian capitulation, while simultaneously intensifying air attacks against Ukrainian civilians. The only outcome of the talks was the agreement to exchange specific categories of POWs.
Fourth exchange in one week
On 14 June 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his official Telegram channel that Ukraine had carried out the fourth prisoner exchange in a single week.
“We continue to bring our people back from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy wrote.
He added that many of those released had been in Russian hands since 2022 and included servicemen from the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service.
“We must free everyone and we’re working toward this so that no one is left to the enemy,” Zelenskyy stated, thanking all those contributing to the process.
A Ukrainian birder guard returned from Russian captivity on 14 June 2025. Photo: Ukraine’s State Border Service
Wounded, seriously ill, and young defenders returned
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, this latest exchange was part of a broader deal focusing on releasing those who are wounded or seriously ill. It was carried out under agreements previously reached with Russia in Istanbul.
The returned soldiers include members of the Armed Forces, Air Assault Forces, Navy, Territorial Defense Forces, State Border Guard Service, National Guard, and the State Special Transport Service. The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that the majority had been in captivity since 2022, with many captured during the defense of Mariupol.
Ukrainian POWs released on 14 June 2025. Photo: Telegram/Zelenskyy Official
High number of officers and young servicemen among released
Most of the freed defenders reportedly were officers, while some were under the age of 25. They had fought on multiple fronts, including the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kursk directions. Their release marks a significant development in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to bring its soldiers home.
The Coordination Headquarters confirmed that all released defenders will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation. They will also be granted the full financial compensation due for the duration of their captivity.
2022 Mariupol Defense
The defense of Mariupol in 2022 resulted in heavy losses for Ukraine, with hundreds of servicemen captured after the fall of the Azovstal plant. Since then, Ukraine has conducted multiple prisoner swaps, often focusing on those with severe injuries or health conditions, facilitated through international negotiations.
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Kyiv is continuing efforts to bring home its citizens held captive by Russia, marking the fourth prisoner exchange in a week, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 14.
"Today, among those returning to Ukraine, many have been in captivity since 2022," Zelensky said. "These include soldiers from the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service."
The exchanges are part of the agreement reached during talks held in Istanbul earlier this month, where both sides agreed to phased prisoner swaps and repatriation of fallen soldiers.
The latest group freed on June 14 mainly consists of severely wounded and seriously ill soldiers, many of whom were captured during the defense of Mariupol in 2022.
Most of the released defenders are officers, with some younger than 25 years old. These Ukrainian defenders served on multiple fronts including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kursk directions, the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War stated.
Ukraine has earlier brought home service members from Russian captivity on June 12 and 10. Both swaps alsp prioritized severely injured and ill captives. The number of personnel released was not disclosed.
Ukrainian soldiers freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldier freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldier freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldiers freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldiers freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldier freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Ukrainian soldier freed in a prisoner swap with Russia on June 14, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
The Istanbul deal was reached during the second round of direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on June 2 in Istanbul. While no political breakthrough was achieved, both sides agreed to a phased exchange of prisoners and the repatriation of fallen soldiers' bodies. As part of that agreement, Russia pledged to return the bodies of up to 6,000 Ukrainian service members.
Ukraine brought back the bodies of 2,412 Ukrainian nationals, including fallen service members, on June 13 and June 11, as well as 1,200 on June 14.
Amid the ongoing exchanges, Ukraine continues to push for an "all-for-all" formula to bring every captured Ukrainian soldier home, a proposal Moscow has so far rejected. The Coordination Headquarters said preparations are underway for the next phase of prisoner releases in the coming weeks as Kyiv maintains its commitment to recovering all those held captive.
The freed defenders will undergo medical examinations, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation, and be granted all entitled compensation for their time in captivity, according to the Coordination Headquarters.
In a conversation with journalists, Zelensky expressed hope that the prisoner exchanges would be completed by June 20 or 21.
As of 12 JUN 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
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Ukraine returned a group of severely wounded and seriously ill military personnel from Russian captivity as part of an ongoing major prisoner exchange program negotiated during Istanbul talks on 2 June.
The exchange forms part of a broader agreement between Ukraine and Russia focusing on specific prisoner categories rather than numerical parity and the exact number of returned soldiers was not specified. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky, however, revealed after the Istanbul meeting that Russia expects this new major exchange would follow a “1200 for 1200” format.
Ukrainian POWs are systematically tortured in Russian captivity and denied medical care, which constitutes a war crime. More than 95% of released Ukrainian POWs report experiencing torture, including physical beatings with metal rods, rebar and bricks, electrocution, forced nudity, and psychological abuse. In contrast, Ukrainian authorities provide the UN with unrestricted access to POW camps with Russian prisoners and maintain conditions compliant with humanitarian law.
Among the freed prisoners are defenders of Mariupol who spent more than three years in Russian captivity. All released individuals are male enlisted personnel and sergeants, with some previously classified as missing in action.
Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returned from Russian captivity on 12 June in a major prisoner exchange brokered in Istanbul on 2 June.Photos: Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War and Zelenskyy on X
The returned personnel include service members from multiple branches of Ukraine’s armed forces, including the Airborne Assault Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, and Territorial Defense Forces, as well as personnel from the State Border Guard Service and National Guard, according to the Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War.
“All need treatment, and they will definitely receive the necessary assistance,” Zelenskyy stated. “We continue working to bring everyone back from Russian captivity.”
Severely wounded and seriously ill Ukrainian defenders return from Russian captivity in a new prisoner exchange.
Some of them were held for over three years and some were previously classified as missing in action.
The ages of the returned prisoners range from 22 to 59 years old, according to Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. All freed personnel will undergo medical examinations and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation services, along with compensation payments for their time in captivity.
In a previous recent swap on 9 June, Ukraine returned captured defenders under 25 years of age, followed by wounded and ill military personnel the next day.
On 11 June, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 1,212 fallen service members for forensic identification and return to families.
Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returned from Russian captivity on 12 June in a major prisoner exchange brokered in Istanbul on 2 June.Photos: Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War
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Ukraine has brought home another group of service members from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 12, saying the latest exchange focused on "severely wounded and seriously ill warriors."
The prisoners of war (POWs) were released as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia agreed upon during recent peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine'sCoordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the POWs said.
The June 12 release follows a similar exchange on June 10, which also prioritized severely injured and ill captives. As during the previous swap, the number of personnel released was not immediately disclosed.
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
Russia's Defense Ministry has also announced that its soldiers had been released from Ukrainian captivity as part of the swap, without disclosing their numbers.
Some of the POWs had been held by Russia for more than three years, according to the headquarters. Many of the released defenders had been classified as missing in action.
"This is part of a major exchange that continues in phases," the headquarters said in a statement. "These soldiers require urgent medical care and will receive full assistance, including psychological rehabilitation and financial compensation for their time in captivity."
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Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the POWs)
Soldiers from multiple Ukrainian military branches, including the Armed Forces, Air Assault Forces, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service, were freed in the exchange. Many had served in combat operations across Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
The Istanbul deal was reached during a second round of direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on June 2. While no political breakthrough was achieved, both sides agreed to a phased exchange of prisoners and the repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains.
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity under a prisoner exchange on June 12, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
As part of that agreement, Russia pledged to return the bodies of up to 6,000 Ukrainian service members.
Ukraine has brought back the bodies of 1,212 fallen service members on June 11. Vladimir Medinsky, aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed Ukraine released the remains of 27 Russian service members, while Kyiv did not confirm this.
The recent prisoner swap comes weeks after the largest such exchange of the war to date, which took place between May 23 and 25, with each side releasing 1,000 captives. Since Russia's full-scale invasion began, more than 5,000 Ukrainian POWs have been returned home, according to official figures.
Ukraine continues to push for an "all-for-all" formula to bring every captured Ukrainian soldier back, but Moscow has so far rejected such a comprehensive agreement. Meanwhile, the Coordination Headquarters said preparations are underway for the next phase of exchanges in the coming weeks.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukraine and Russia carried out another prisoner exchange on June 10, concluding the second phase of an agreement reached during the most recent round of peace talks in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
"We continue the return of our people, as agreed in Istanbul," Zelensky wrote on X, confirming the exchange without immediately disclosing the number of returnees.
"Today marks the first stage of the return of our injured and severely wounded warriors from Russian captivity. All of them require immediate medical attention. This is an important humanitarian act," he added.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said the second group of released prisoners includes personnel from Ukraine's Navy, Ground Forces, National Guard, Unmanned Systems Forces, Air Assault Forces, Border Guard Service, Territorial Defense, and State Special Transport Service.
Ukraine managed to release officers, soldiers, and non-commissioned officers. Among the freed Ukrainian soldiers are those who are seriously ill, as well as those who defended the city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast and spent more than three years in captivity.
"All of the defenders released today have severe injuries and serious illnesses: amputated limbs, vision problems, abscesses, infections, trauma, shrapnel wounds, and chronic diseases. Some of the liberated have been diagnosed with hepatitis and tuberculosis," the headquarters' statement read.
We continue the return of our people, as agreed in Istanbul. Today marks the first stage of the return of our injured and severely wounded warriors from Russian captivity. All of them require immediate medical attention. This is an important humanitarian act.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 10, 2025
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that it had received a second group of Russian prisoners of war who are now in Belarus. Moscow did not disclose the exchange details or the number of returnees.
The swap marks the second stage of the deal negotiated during the June 2 negotiations in Turkey — the second direct peace dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.
While no ceasefire or political breakthrough was achieved, both sessions resulted in key humanitarian agreements, including commitments to exchange prisoners of war (POWs) and the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Alongside the prisoner swap, Moscow pledged to hand over the remains of 6,000 Ukrainian service members. Zelensky said on June 4 that preparations for the body repatriation would begin after the completion of the prisoner exchange.
Tensions briefly flared on June 7, when Russian officials claimed the exchange had failed due to Ukraine's actions. Kyiv rejected the accusation, calling it disinformation.
Russia also released a video showing refrigerators allegedly containing Ukrainian bodies, which Ukrainian officials said was filmed inside Russia and not at an agreed exchange site.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 10, 2025
The latest exchange follows the largest swap of the full-scale war, conducted between May 23–25, during which 1,000 captives were released by each side. Ukraine has returned over 5,000 prisoners from Russian captivity since March 2022, according to official data.
Kyiv continues to advocate for an "all-for-all" formula, which would see the return of every captured Ukrainian soldier. Russia has repeatedly refused to accept such a comprehensive deal.
Ukraine has received no response from Russia to its peace proposals handed over ahead of the second round of talks in Istanbul, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on 9 June during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Lithuanian counterpart Kęstutis Budrys, Suspilne reports.
This comes as US President Donald Trump pushes for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, allegedly to end the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. On 2 June, the second round of low-level negotiations took place in Türkiye, yielding no progress on a ceasefire. Russia instead reiterated its maximalist demands, effectively amounting to Ukrainian capitulation, while simultaneously intensifying air attacks against Ukrainian civilians over the past week.
Sybiha stated that Moscow has yet to reply to the “constructive proposals” Ukraine presented and accused the Kremlin of blocking the peace process.
“Instead, they (the Russian delegation, – Ed.) threw a list of ultimatums on the table in Istanbul, which are unacceptable to diplomats,” Sybiha said.
He emphasized the need to increase pressure on Russia and all entities aiding its war against Ukraine, pointing to the Kremlin’s actions as further proof of its unwillingness to pursue a peaceful resolution.
Suspilne previously obtained the full text of Ukraine’s memorandum presented during the Istanbul talks on 2 June. The document includes proposals for a ceasefire, monitoring of the truce, and a presidential meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
It also calls for Russia’s unconditional return of all deported and displaced Ukrainian children, a full prisoner exchange, and the release of all civilian detainees. These measures are meant to cover all individuals affected since February 2014.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had disclosed on 28 May that the Ukrainian delegation had handed this memorandum to the head of the Russian negotiating team, Vladimir Medinsky.
During the 2 June session, Russia provided its own memorandum, which it claims includes steps for ending the war. According to this document, Russia demands a full withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, and recognition of these territories as Russian. The memorandum also requires Ukraine to adopt a neutral status, stop receiving weapons, and cease intelligence cooperation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia’s memorandum as an “ultimatum.”
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Ukraine has begun a large prisoner exchange with Russia as part of a deal reached during recent peace talks in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on June 9.
"Ukrainians are coming home from Russian captivity," Zelensky said in a statement. "Today the exchange began and will continue in several stages over the coming days. Among those being returned now are wounded and severely wounded prisoners, as well as those under 25."
The swap marks the first stage of the agreement negotiated at the second round of direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on June 2.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said the first group of released prisoners includes personnel from Ukraine's Navy, Ground Forces, Air Force, National Guard, Border Guard Service, Territorial Defense, and State Special Transport Service.
Ukrainian defenders return home after a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 9, 2025. (Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War/Telegram)
Among those freed are defenders of Mariupol who had spent more than three years in captivity. All those returned in this stage are enlisted and noncommissioned soldiers, officials said.
"Most of those returned were captured in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022,” Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.
Lubinets said his office monitored the exchange on the ground to ensure respect for human rights under the Geneva Convention and helped freed Ukrainians contact their families.
"We warmly welcome all who can now breathe the air of their homeland after years of captivity," Lubinets said. "Our team shares in the joy of the families who received that precious and long-awaited call."
The ongoing exchange covers specific categories — soldiers under 25, the severely wounded, and seriously ill prisoners — and Ukraine continues to work to repatriate the bodies of fallen servicemembers, according to the General Staff.
Ukrainian defenders return home after a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 9, 2025. (Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War/Telegram)
Ukrainian officials did not disclose the total number of POWs freed on June 9, citing security reasons. Ahead of the exchange, Zelensky had said Ukraine aimed to bring home 500 prisoners in the June 7-8 swap, which ultimately did not take place as scheduled.
June 9 swap comes after Kyiv denied Russian claims that it had delayed the planned June 7-8 exchange. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky had accused Ukraine of postponing the swap indefinitely. Ukrainian officials dismissed this as disinformation.
"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side is once again facing (Russian) attempts to retroactively revise agreements. If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," Ukraine's Defense Ministry wrote on Telegram.
In his June 8 address, Zelensky accused Russia of playing a "dirty political and information game" and reiterated that Kyiv had not received a full list of POWs from Moscow, as negotiated in Istanbul.
Since March 2022, Ukraine has brought home more than 5,000 prisoners through exchanges. Kyiv continues to press Russia to agree to an "all-for-all" swap — a proposal Moscow has so far rejected.
The Istanbul talks, hosted by Turkish officials, resulted in the largest planned prisoner exchange of the war, though broader progress toward a peace deal remains elusive.
The exchange of the bodies of deceased soldiers, agreed upon during Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, is scheduled for next week, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief (HUR), said on June 8.
"The start of repatriation measures following the negotiations in Istanbul is scheduled for next week, as authorized persons were informed on Tuesday (June 3)," Budanov posted on Telegram.
Budanov's statement comes just a day after Russia claimed that a prisoner swap had failed due to Ukraine's fault — an accusation Kyiv denied.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) said on June 7 that preparations for the exchange of bodies were underway, although no specific date had been confirmed.
"The attempts of some Russian propagandists to capitalize on human suffering, which they themselves are responsible for, sound particularly cynical," he said. "Especially on the great feast of Pentecost, which we are celebrating today."
On June 7, Russian media published a video showing refrigerators allegedly containing the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, claiming they had been delivered for exchange.
POW Coordination Headquarters deputy head Andrii Yusov told Ukrainian Pravda that the footage had been filmed inside Russia and not at a designated exchange site.
According to Budanov, Ukraine continues to honor the terms agreed during the June 2 Istanbul talks despite mounting Russian information pressure and attempts to impose unilateral conditions.
At the Istanbul meeting, both sides agreed to a new round of prisoner exchanges involving severely wounded personnel and individuals aged 18 to 25.
Russia also pledged to hand over 6,000 bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers and officers. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that the repatriation would follow the next POW swap.
The June 2 negotiations marked the second direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, after an earlier session on May 16. While no ceasefire or political settlement was reached, both rounds led to agreements on humanitarian measures.
Ukraine and Russia carried out the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war from May 23 to 25, exchanging 1,000 captives each.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Moscow to adopt an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange formula. While over 5,000 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity since March 2022, Russia continues to resist a comprehensive swap.
On 7 June 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot that direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia remain essential for ending the war, according to a readout from the US Department of State.
Since taking office in January, Trump had been advocating for talks between Moscow and Kyiv to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But with Russia maintaining maximalist demands that amount to Ukraine’s capitulation, and continuing to target civilians and infrastructure, Trump’s efforts have proven ineffective.
Rubio brings up direct talks in phone call with Barrot
The US State Department reported that Rubio and Barrot spoke about global security developments. According to the official readout,
“Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of continued direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace.”
In the same 7 June call, Rubio and Barrot “reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing Iran from developing or obtaining a nuclear weapon.” They also discussed support for Israel and emphasized the need to free hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. However, the focus on Ukraine again highlighted Washington’s ongoing strategy of promoting negotiations with Russia.
Diplomatic pressure unchanged despite lack of results
Despite all the diplomatic efforts, Russia continues to demand Kyiv’s de facto capitulation, repeating its initial full-scale invasion objectives from 2022.
Rubio’s message comes days after a 2 June meeting in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian low-level representatives, where both sides agreed to a new exchange of prisoners and fallen soldiers.
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Ukraine has denied Russian claims that it had delayed a planned exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) and the bodies of fallen soldiers, reportedly scheduled for June 7-8.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations agreed to conduct a major swap, which would include severely injured prisoners and young people aged 18 to 25, during their second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on June 2.
After the talks, Russia also pledged to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that preparations for exchanging the bodies would begin after the POW swap.
On June 7, however, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in peace talks, claimed that the contact group of the Russian Defense Ministry was reportedly stationed at the border with Ukraine, but the Ukrainian side "unexpectedly postponed both the transfer of bodies and the POW exchange indefinitely."
Ukraine's Defense Ministry dismissed the claim as false, saying it was an attempt by Russia to avoid returning Ukrainian POWs from captivity and take their POWs back to Russia.
"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side is once again facing attempts to retroactively revise agreements. If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," the ministry wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs also refuted Russia's claim, saying that "instead of constructive dialogue, Ukraine once again faced manipulations and attempts to exploit sensitive humanitarian issues for information purposes."
According to the headquarters, Ukraine submitted lists of POWs "formed according to clearly defined categories agreed upon during the negotiations in Istanbul," while the Russian side "provided different lists that do not correspond to the agreed approach."
The headquarters also added that an agreement on the repatriation of bodies of fallen soldiers was made, but the date was not set.
"Instead of consistently implementing the agreed procedure, the Russian side took unilateral actions that were not coordinated within the joint process," the statement reads.
"Unfortunately, instead of constructive dialogue, we are once again faced with manipulations and attempts to exploit sensitive humanitarian issues for information purposes. We remain committed to a real outcome — the return of our prisoners and the bodies of the fallen — and are ready to continue working within the agreed framework."
The latest direct Russia-Ukraine talks, hosted by Turkish officials, followed the first round of negotiations on May 16. The initial meeting ended with an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war, but without any tangible progress toward a peace deal.
Ukraine has returned over 5,000 prisoners via exchanges with Russia since March 2022, according to officials. Kyiv has repeatedly pressed Moscow to agree to an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange, but Russia has rejected the proposal.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) revealed that when communication was severed, the drones continued missions using pre-programmed routes and AI algorithms before automatically activating warheads at designated targets.
As of 4 JUN 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
Personnel: 991820 (+1020)
Tanks: 10884 (+3)
APV: 22678 (+7)
Artillery systems: 28711 (+88)
MLRS: 1402
Anti-aircraft systems: 1176
Aircraft: 413
Helicopters: 336
UAV: 38924 (+176)
Cruise missiles : 3271
Warships/boats: 28
Submarines: 1
Vehicles and fuel tanks: 50730 (+123)
Intelligence and technology
Russia ramps up Shahed production to 170 daily, eyes 190 by year-end. Russian engineers have doubled the explosive payload in Shahed drones from 50 to 90 kilograms while introducing new warhead types targeting specific objectives, according to Ukraine’s intelligence services.
UK drone deliveries to Ukraine jump from 10,000 to 100,000 in 2025. The UK government will invest a record $474 mn in drone production for Ukraine this year, scaling up from the 10,000 drones delivered in 2024 to an ambitious target of 100,000 units, the Defence Ministry announced.
US Defense Secretary skips Ukraine meeting for first time since creating it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will miss Wednesday’s gathering of 50 defense ministers coordinating military aid for Ukraine. The absence marks the first time since 2022 that America’s top defense official has skipped the meeting the US originally created.
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Ukraine and Russia are preparing to conduct a significant prisoner exchange on 7-8 June, with Russia indicating it can transfer 500 Ukrainian military personnel as part of a larger agreement, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a press briefing on 4 June.
The exchange represents part of broader agreements reached during recent Istanbul negotiations on 2 June. The talks failed to produce any ceasefire agreement over the deep divide between Kyiv’s and Moscow’s stances on the war. However, limited progress includes organizing a new prisoner exchange and repatriating the remains of about 6,000 fallen soldiers.
Ukrainian POWs are also systematically tortured in Russian captivity and denied medical care. More than 95% of released Ukrainian POWs report experiencing torture, including physical beatings with objects like rebar and bricks, electrocution, and psychological abuse.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia committed to exchanging 500 prisoners from a previously agreed total of 1,000, with Ukraine prepared to provide an equivalent number in return, Suspilne reports.
Meanwhile, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed to the Kremlin that Russia expects the exchange to follow a “1200 for 1200” format beginning 7 June.
A notable change from previous negotiations involves the advance provision of prisoner lists. Unlike the May talks in Istanbul, both sides have now agreed to share these lists beforehand, though Ukraine has yet to receive them.
“The Russians gave their word that they would give us the lists in advance of who we are exchanging, this is important for us,” Zelenskyy stated.
This comes as reports emerged revealing that Russia manipulated the prisoner exchanges by sending mostly former prisoners convicted of non-war-related crimes who had been indefinitely detained in Russian deportation centers rather than captured Ukrainian soldiers or civilian activists.
The sides also committed to exchanging all severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war, plus all military personnel aged 18-25, focusing on prisoner categories rather than numerical equivalents.
Beyond prisoner exchanges, the sides have established protocols for returning deceased soldiers’ remains. Zelenskyy explained that both Ukrainian and Russian documentation indicates only 15-20% of recovered bodies have been properly identified. The president emphasized the importance of accurate identification procedures, noting that body exchanges will commence after prisoner transfers are completed.
The most recent large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia happened from 23 to 25 May involving about 1,000 prisoners from each side.
Since March 2022, Ukraine has secured the release of 5,757 citizens through prisoner exchanges, with an additional 536 Ukrainians returned through other means.
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Ukraine plans to bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in an exchange with Russia between June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.
"Today, our teams held consultations on exchanges. The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it will be able to transfer 500 people, our military personnel, out of the 1,000+ that we agreed on," Zelensky said.
The upcoming swap follows a major 1,000-for-1,000 exchange carried out between May 23 and 25. That deal, initially reached during Istanbul talks on May 16, was the largest prisoner exchange of the war so far.
The new exchange was agreed upon during the second round of direct talks held on June 2.
Zelensky said that Ukraine has not yet received the list of names for the upcoming swap, but that Moscow had promised to provide it in advance.
"This time, unlike in Istanbul last time, the Russians have promised to give us the lists of whom we are exchanging in advance, which is important for us," he noted.
The statement comes as a previous prisoner exchange list reportedly included Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia.
Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war.
After the June 2 talks, Russia also pledged to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine. Zelensky noted that preparations for exchanging the bodies will begin after the POW swap.
Ukraine has consistently pushed for an "all-for-all" formula in prisoner swaps, aiming to secure the return of every Ukrainian soldier in captivity. Russia has rejected that proposal.
Ukraine aims to return up to 1,200 prisoners of war (POWs) in the next exchange with Russia following the second round of talks in Istanbul, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 2 during an online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine and Russia held direct talks in Turkey earlier in the day, agreeing on a new prisoner swap, which will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as people with serious injuries.
Zelensky said the next exchange is expected to be in a 1,000-for-1,000 format, with the possibility of increasing the number to 1,200 people on each side. The president added that future swap could also involve imprisoned journalists and political prisoners held in Russia.
"It is very important that the Russians allow the lists to be checked in advance, unlike last time," Zelensky said.
Ukraine and Russia held a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange from May 23 to 25 after previously agreeing to the exchange at peace talks on May 16. Aside from yielding a prisoner exchange, the peace negotiations in Istanbul were largely inconclusive.
Apart from Ukrainian prisoners of war, the exchange list also reportedly included Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia.
Taranenko's alleged inclusion in the exchange exacerbated criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of any Azov fighters and many civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years in what was the largest prisoner swap of the full-scale war.
Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), said that Kyiv could not influence who Russia decided to release in the recent swap.
6,000 for 6,000: Kyiv and Moscow have agreed on the largest exchange of fallen soldiers since the full-scale war began in the latest meeting in Istanbul.
On 2 June, the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended without agreement on a ceasefire or peace deal, as both sides remain deeply divided on key issues. Meanwhile, the US has not taken new measures to compel Russia to stop its attacks.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation, has announced that the parties agreed on a new large-scale swap at the negotiations.
“We have agreed on exchanges. We will soon provide details,” he said after the talks.
According to the minister, the focus was on three key categories:
Severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war,
Young soldiers aged 18 to 25,
Bodies of fallen soldiers.
The sides have agreed on an “all-for-all” exchange principle for each category. This includes exchanging 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers for the same number from the Russian side.
In addition, the Ukrainian side handed over to Russia a list of several hundred kidnapped Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia. Ukraine insists on their immediate return.
The negotiations ended following Ukraine’s biggest Spiderweb operation, which damaged or destroyed 40 Russian aircraft. Many military experts and officials have praised the strikes, calling them the future of modern warfare.
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Editor's note: This story has been updated with statements by Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's advisor Vladimir Medinsky after the second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing to hold a new prisoner of war (POW) exchange mediated by Turkey, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 2 at the Bucharest Nine (B9) summit.
The development comes after the second round of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul on the same day.
Ukraine's Defense Minister and head of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, Rustem Umerov, later confirmed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an exchange with priority given to seriously injured and younger soldiers, Suspilne reported.
Vladimir Medinsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide and head of Russia's delegation to Istanbul, clarified that the exchange would apply to people under 25. The total number of people involved in the exchange could be as many as 1,000, he added.
As a result of the previous talks in Istanbul in May, Kyiv and Moscow carried out the largest prisoner swap during Russia's war in Ukraine, exchanging 1,000 people from each side.
"If Russia turns the Istanbul meetings into empty talk, new sanctions will have to be imposed not only by Europe but also at the level of the G7, including the U.S. and all those who want them," Zelensky said.
According to the president, sanctions should remain an important lever of influence on Russia, as it continues the war in Ukraine.
"Sanctions against Russia are necessary because they will significantly reduce tanker use and trade opportunities. Lower oil prices could hit the Russian economy. Without pressure, Putin will continue to manipulate everyone who wants to end the war," Zelensky added.
During the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation presented a peace proposal expressing its readiness to make concessions regarding Russian sanctions if a full ceasefire is achieved. According to the proposal, some of the restrictions could be lifted gradually, provided that there is a mechanism for their renewal if necessary.
The Ukrainian proposal also includes a prisoner swap in an all-for-all format, bringing back Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, as well as the release of all civilians held in Russian captivity.
While ceasefire agreements and peace talks have remained elusive since the start of the full-scale invasion, regular prisoner swaps have remained one of the few areas of ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal.
At least 8,000 Ukrainian service members are held captive by Russia, Iryna Vereshchuk, president's office deputy head, said on May 1, citing data from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs.
Kyiv does not release the figures for how many Russian POWs are currently in Ukrainian custody.
Russia manipulated a recent exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) with Ukraine by sending mostly ordinary criminals awaiting deportation instead of captured soldiers or pro-Ukrainian activists.
From 23 to 25 May 2025, Ukraine and Russia conducted the largest prisoner exchange involving roughly 1,000 prisoners from each side, following negotiations held in Istanbul on 16 May—the first direct talks in over three years initiated by the US under Trump administration. Ukraine received about 880 military personnel and 120 civilians, while Russia received 70 Ukrainians convicted of collaboration or crimes against national security. Despite the exchange, the peace talks did not yield a ceasefire as was proposed by Ukraine and international leaders.
This exchange, however, did not include any members of the 12th Special Operations Brigade Azov, who remain in captivity since 2022 after surrendering in Mariupol under Ukrainian command orders. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, Azov’s commander, called the exchange a “mockery” due to the absence of Azov members, who are highly motivated soldiers for defending Ukraine. Russia officially designated the Azov Regiment as a “terrorist organization”, which complicates their release and exchange. They are also subjected to systematic torture and denied prisoner-of-war protections due to this designation.
The composition of civilians returned to Ukraine has raised questions about the exchange process and support systems for returnees. According to the organization “Protection of Prisoners of Ukraine,” more than half of the 120 civilians who returned to Ukraine were individuals convicted of non-war-related criminal offenses, Suspilne News reports.
The organization identified two distinct categories among the returnees: 15 prisoners who had been serving sentences in colonies in occupied Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, and approximately 50 Ukrainian citizens who had completed sentences in Russia but became trapped in deportation centers.
Under normal circumstances, Russian authorities would have deported these individuals to Ukraine after they completed their sentences. However, since Russia’s 2022 border closure due to the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian citizens have remained indefinitely in deportation centers designed for foreign nationals illegally present in Russia.
Oleksandr, a man from Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast, described his experience to Suspilne reporters. After completing a sentence for theft in May 2024 at a Tula colony, he was immediately detained and sent to a deportation center rather than being released.
“We were slaves there. They oppressed us, affected human dignity, treated us not particularly positively,” he stated.
The judicial system perpetuated this detention through renewable three-month deportation orders. When the initial three-month expulsion period expired, courts would issue new three-month decisions, creating an indefinite detention cycle.
Russia recruits prisoners for military operations against their own people
Multiple returnees reported that Russian authorities offered them enlistment in the Russian military in exchange for release and citizenship.
“There were those who agreed. Not only Ukrainian citizens, there were Armenians, Uzbeks, and Tajiks. It’s not their war, but they still go,” Oleksandr explained. “I didn’t agree because my home is Ukraine. I’m a sincere Ukrainian. I don’t need any of that.”
Another returnee Vadym from Kyiv Oblast also told that Russian authorities repeatedly pressured him to join the Russian army.
Vadim traveled to Russia in 2019 but was detained at the border on drug smuggling charges, which he claims were unfair and without evidence. After completing his prison sentence, he was placed in a deportation center. Now after return to Ukraine, he says he wants to “be with loved ones and start life from scratch.”
Men are standing near the hospital in Kyiv and considering what to do next with their lives after they were freed from the Russian captivity. These civilians were detained in Russia for non-war crimes but were included in the recent POW exchange instead of captured soldiers or activists. Photo: Suspilne News/Oleksandr Mahula
Prisoners in Russian captivity face beatings and humiliation
The transfer process began abruptly on 21 May, when facility administrators instructed Ukrainian detainees to prepare for departure without explanation. Returnees described harsh treatment during transport, including beatings with electric shock devices and overtightened handcuffs that left visible injuries.
A former Ukrainian prisoner in Russia shows traces of handcuffs after his return from Russian captivity in the recent exchange for POWs. Kyiv, 28 May, 2025. Photo: Suspilne News/Oleksandr Mahula
“Police officers in masks rushed in, beat us, shackled us, loaded us into a bus and drove us in an unknown direction,” Oleksandr recounted.
Another returnee noted that guards would ask which hand hurt from tight handcuffs before shocking it with a taser.
The detainees only learned they were part of a prisoner exchange when they reached the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Many expressed mixed feelings about their inclusion in the exchange, with Oleksandr stating:
“It would be better if they gave back the guys who fought instead of us. I was ready to endure there further,” he says.
Men are standing near the hospital in Kyiv and considering what to do next with their lives after they were freed from the Russian captivity. These civilians were detained in Russia for non-war crimes but were included in the recent POW exchange instead of captured soldiers or activists. Photo: Suspilne News/Oleksandr Mahula
Oleh Tsvily, head of “Protection of Prisoners of Ukraine” characterized Russia’s use of detained Ukrainians as leverage in prisoner exchanges as a departure from previous practices, when deportations typically occurred through Georgia.
“They kidnapped these people to trade with them,” he said, arguing that these individuals should have been released without conditions.
Returnees face challenges back home, some consider joining Ukrainian army
Now being back in Ukraine poses new challenges for returnees as half of them lack proper documentation or have nowhere to go, according to Oleh Tsvily.
Returnee Oleksandr reported that Russian authorities deliberately destroyed his original passport because he “went against the Russian Federation and didn’t support their concepts.”
Petro Yatsenko, representing the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, stated the government tries to address their issues with housing, financial support, and placement. He explains that this exchange was reportedly prepared hastily, limiting Ukraine’s ability to influence the composition of exchange lists.
Men are standing near the hospital in Kyiv and considering what to do next with their lives after they were freed from the Russian captivity. These civilians were detained in Russia for non-war crimes but were included in the recent POW exchange instead of captured soldiers or activists. Photo: Suspilne News/Oleksandr Mahula
Returnee Viktor considers joining the Ukrainian army because he felt “ashamed” that he wasn’t in Ukraine “when all this mess started.”
Viktor from Kharkiv moved to Irkutsk, Russia in 2016 with his Russian wife and daughter, working as a builder and later a market loader. After losing his residence permit, FSB officers detained him at work in October 2024, with an operative later explaining that “a paper came about me that I’m Ukrainian, arouse suspicion and need to be checked.”
He spent five months in a deportation center before being transferred for the prisoner exchange.
The head of “Protection of Prisoners of Ukraine” organization acknowledged that this category of returnees is viewed less favorably by the public, which had hoped for the release of prisoners of war, children, or pro-Ukrainian activists instead.
However, he defended their inclusion in the exchange, emphasizing that these individuals are Ukrainian citizens who refused to take up arms against their homeland. He argued that society should respect their decision to resist collaboration and predicted that some would contribute to Ukraine’s defense efforts.
“I’m confident that some of them will go defend the country. These people will definitely bring some benefit. So there’s no need to spread betrayal! These are living people, they are our citizens,” Tsvily said.
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In a prisoner exchange held from May 23 to 25, Russia sent Ukraine 65 prisoners who were set to be deported to Ukraine regardless of the swap, Suspilne reported on May 30.
Ukraine and Russia held a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange from May 23 to 25 after previously agreeing to the exchange at peace talks on May 16. Aside from yielding a prisoner exchange, the peace negotiations in Istanbul were largely inconclusive.
The majority of those exchanged were prisoners of war in Russia's war against Ukraine. 880 of 1,000 were military personnel. 120 of those returned were civilians held in Russian captivity, 65 of whom were set to be deported to Ukraine regardless of the prisoner exchange.
15 of the prisoners were serving sentences. Meanwhile, 50 of the exchanged prisoners were indefinitely held in detention facilities for foreigners not permitted to stay in Russia, awaiting deportation to Ukraine, Suspilne reported.
While in captivity, the prisoners were offered freedom and Russian citizenship if they fought on behalf of Russia in its war against Ukraine.
"We were lucky. But it would have been better if the guys who fought had been given up instead of us," one of the released prisoners said.
Many of the released prisoners were returned to Ukraine without their legal documents, including passports.
Russia regularly convicts people of politically motivated charges in an effort to silence opposition to its war against Ukraine.
On April 18, a court in St. Petersburg sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to two years and eight months in a penal colony for allegedly "discrediting" the Russian army.
Kozyreva was arrested on Feb. 24, 2024, after she affixed a verse from Taras Shevchenko’s "My Testament" to his statue in St. Petersburg.
Another case was filed against her in August after she gave an interview to Radio Free Europe in which she denounced Russia’s war in Ukraine as "monstrous" and "criminal."
The family of 59-year-old Ukrainian soldier Serhii Hryhoriev spent months holding on to hope for his safe return. But instead of a reunion, they were faced with heartbreak when his body was returned from Russian custody. His death, now among over 200 confirmed fatalities of Ukrainian prisoners of war, has become part of a growing body of evidence cited by human rights monitors who warn of systematic abuse, medical neglect, and torture in Russian detention, AP reports.
Ukrainian POWs in Russian custody have endured systematic torture—beatings, electric shocks, and sexual abuse—often leading to severe injury or death. Inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, starvation, and medical neglect, are widely reported. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said any ceasefire agreement must include the return of POWs and Ukrainian civilians forcibly taken to Russia. Over the recent weekend, a 1000-for-1000 prisoner exchange took place — part of the broader effort to bring the living home and account for the dead.
Serhii Hryhoriev worked as an office worker at a high school in central Ukraine. He enlisted in the military in 2019, and by early 2022 was deployed to Mariupol. On 10 April 2022, as the Russian siege of the city intensified, he made what would be his final call home. As he had done many times before, he tried to comfort his wife and daughters with the words: “Everything will be all right.”
That was the last time they heard his voice
Two days later, a fellow soldier’s relative informed the family of their unit’s capture. After the city’s fall, over 2,000 defenders were taken into Russian captivity. Soon after, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed to his wife that he had been registered as a POW, which should have ensured legal protections under the Geneva Conventions.
A letter from him arrived in August. It was short, affectionate, and ended with the same words: “Everything will be all right.” But what the family later saw online — a video where he appeared frail, bearded, and toothless — suggested otherwise.
Survivor testimony exposes brutal conditions
Hryhoriev was held at the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky Correctional Colony in Russia’s southwest. Former detainee Oleksii Honcharov, who was imprisoned with him, recounted routine beatings for all captives.
“Everyone got hit — no exceptions,” he told AP.
According to Honcharov, violence continued even when prisoners showed serious health problems. He described months of chest pain that received no medical attention. “Toward the end, I could barely walk,” he said. After returning to Ukraine, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis — a condition increasingly found among former POWs.
Hryhoriev, despite his age, was initially resilient. But over time, he became dizzy and weak, eventually needing assistance to walk. Still, according to Honcharov, guards refused to hospitalize him and instead confined him to a cold, unlit cell, isolated except for a fellow Ukrainian prisoner assigned to watch him. He died there about a month later — on 20 May 2023, as recorded by Russian authorities.
For more than half a year, Hryhoriev’s family heard nothing. Then, in March 2024, Ukrainian police informed them a body had arrived, tagged with his name and accompanied by a Russian death certificate citing a stroke.
Ukrainian forensic experts performed an autopsy. It contradicted the Russian version, identifying blunt-force trauma to the abdomen and damage to the spleen as the cause of death. His body was finally buried in Pyriatyn, Poltava Oblast, in June.
A growing count of dead, and few clear answers
The case of Hryhoriev is one among at least 206 known Ukrainian POW deaths in Russian custody, based on Ukrainian government figures, AP says. Another 245 are believed to have been executed on the battlefield by Russian troops. Human rights organizations and forensic investigators are trying to document the full scope of the violations.
Forensic analysis of repatriated Ukrainian POWs has revealed signs of torture, including fractures, bruises, signs of gangrene or untreated infections, and sometimes missing organs, according to forensic expert Inna Padei. Ukrainian officials report that Russia often withholds bodies until they are too decomposed for reliable autopsy. These findings, alongside survivor testimony, are being compiled to support war crimes investigations. Amnesty International has also accused Russia of concealing POW conditions and obstructing access to its prisons.
According to a 2024 United Nations report, 95% of released Ukrainian POWs experienced systematic torture, including beatings, suffocation, mock executions, electric shocks, and sexual abuse. By contrast, the report said that while some Russian POWs were mistreated during their initial capture, abuse stopped once they were transferred to official Ukrainian detention facilities.
A family’s tribute
After Hryhoriev’s death was confirmed, his wife and both daughters marked their wrists with the same phrase he had so often repeated during the war: “Everything will be all right.” To them, he remains not just a victim, but “an angel in the sky.”
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Ukraine’s recent large-scale prisoner exchange with Russia did not include any members of the 12th Special Operations Brigade Azov, according to a statement by the National Guard’s 1st Corps Azov. The three-day swap, which concluded today, involved the return of 1000 prisoners on each side but left out the Azov fighters who had defended Mariupol in early 2022.
On 17 May 2022, the Russian siege of Azovstal – the last Ukrainian-held stronghold in the Mariupol – ended through negotiations involving the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The day before, Ukraine’s General Staff announced that the Mariupol garrison, including remnants of the Azov Regiment, had completed its mission and begun evacuation. Following high command orders, the Azov fighters surrendered and were taken to Russian-controlled territory. Later, some Azov officers and rank-and-file soldiers have returned to Ukraine, but most of the regiment remains in illegal Russian captivity.
In a statement published on Telegram, the National Guard Corps Azov welcomed the exchange of members of two National Guard’s brigades – 14th Chervona Kalyna and 15th Kara-Dag – among those 1,000 prisoners who returned home over the past three days,
“We welcome home every soldier who today returned to their native land. Together we will restore our strength and defend Ukraine with even greater determination,” the statement said.
Then Azov confirmed:
“However, there were no servicemen of the 12th Brigade Azov in this exchange.”
The soldiers of Azov – the National Guard’s regiment at the time – had held off Russian forces alongside marines and local police for 86 days during the siege of Mariupol, delaying their advance and enabling Ukraine to organize its national defense. The defenders of Azovstal steel plant – the last Ukrainian stronghold in the city – were captured after the Ukrainian command ordered them to surrender.
“The fighters who were taken into captivity following orders after 86 days of defending Mariupol have been there for over 3 years,” Azov’s statement reads. “Over 800 Azov fighters are in their fourth year of captivity.”
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