Ukraine began a multi-stage prisoner exchange with Russia on 9 June, with the first group of Ukrainian servicemen under 25 years old returning home from captivity.

“Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. Today an exchange began that will continue in several stages over the coming days,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reports that final numbers of released prisoners will be disclosed after the completion of the exchange process for security reasons.

The first group consists of wounded and severely wounded prisoners, as well as those under 25 years old. Among the released are representatives of the Naval Forces, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Border Guard Service, National Guard, and State Special Transport Service. All freed personnel are enlisted soldiers and sergeants.

“Among the categories of those we are returning now are the wounded and severely wounded, as well as those under 25 years old. The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually daily,” Zelenskyy said.

Defenders of Mariupol who spent more than three years in captivity are among those released, according to the Coordination Headquarters.

The exchange implements agreements reached during negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June, where Ukraine and Russia agreed to return “6000 for 6000” bodies of fallen soldiers and exchange “all for all” severely wounded and young servicemen aged 18 to 25.

The Coordination Headquarters confirmed this represents only the first part of a large-scale exchange that will continue within the framework of reached agreements. Work also continues on repatriating the bodies of Ukrainian military personnel killed defending the homeland.

Returned defenders will receive full support, including document restoration, payment of due military compensation for the entire period in captivity, one-time assistance, and medical rehabilitation courses, the Coordination Headquarters assured.

The exchange addresses specific categories of prisoners of war, particularly those under 25, severely wounded, and seriously ill captives.

Russia had spread false information on June 6 about the alleged start of repatriation activities, then claimed Ukraine “refused to take the bodies of its citizens.” The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that the aggressor state speculates on sensitive topics while preparation for the exchange continues.

Zelenskyy previously reported that of the 6000 military bodies Russia wants to transfer to Ukraine, only 15% are identified.

Ukrainian officials have denied Russian claims that Kyiv failed to participate in a prisoner of war (POW) exchange and body repatriation effort planned on 6 June, saying no official date had yet been agreed upon.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 7 June that Russian officials publicly accused Ukraine of refusing to engage in an exchange of POWs and bodies of killed in action (KIA) soldiers.

According to ISW, the claims were made by Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, Russian GRU Deputy Chief Alexander Zorin, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. They alleged that Russia was prepared to hand over severely wounded and sick POWs, those under the age of 25, and approximately 6,000 KIA bodies as agreed in Istanbul on 2 June.

Zorin further claimed that Russian representatives had waited on the Belarusian border for the Ukrainian side to finalize technical details of the exchange. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova and Federation Council Committee Deputy Chair Andrei Klimov also echoed accusations that Ukraine refused to accept the return of the bodies.

Ukraine refutes Russian claims

In response, the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs denied all Russian allegations. The office clarified that no date for the repatriation had yet been set and emphasized that lists for the POW exchange were still being finalized between both sides.

The Ukrainian headquarters reaffirmed Ukraine’s “full commitment” to constructive engagement aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of both the KIA repatriation and POW exchange agreements.

“The Kremlin’s unwillingness to engage in good faith in lower-level confidence building measures designed to facilitate larger peace negotiations further demonstrates Russia’s disinterest in peace negotiations,” ISW wrote.

Even in captivity, the enemy looks for cracks. Every Ukrainian released from Russian detention undergoes a screening by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as Moscow may try to recruit them, according to Andrii Yusov, Deputy Head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, no saboteurs have been found among the former prisoners.

“Infiltrating a saboteur this way would be extremely difficult or senseless for the Russian intelligence services,” he says.

At the same time, Russian agencies did try to work with every prisoner: “In one way or another, they tried to manipulate them, sometimes even pressure their families. That’s why the state checks everything,” Yusov adds.

Counterintelligence analyzes the conditions of captivity, the prisoner’s behavior, and any possible contacts with the FSB. If evidence of collaboration is found, “procedural actions are taken in accordance with Ukrainian law.”

“Undoubtedly, none of this is overlooked,” Yusov emphasizes.

Earlier, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on the largest exchange of fallen soldiers since the full-scale war began in the latest meeting in Istanbul. This includes exchanging 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers for the same number from the Russian side.