Published on
26/06/2026 - 16:19 GMT+2
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 160 captured soldiers each, both governments confirmed on Friday, in the latest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the handover on social media. "We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 service members were released," he wrote, adding that "all of them had been held captive since 2022." He posted photographs of the returning men draped in blue-and-yellow flags, smiling and embracing one another.
Russia's defence ministry confirmed the figures from the other side, saying "160 Russian servicemen have been returned" with "160 Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over in exchange." It added that the freed Russian soldiers had been taken to Belarus, where they were receiving care.
