When will the largest prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia take place: details
19 May 21:08
The exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia in the 1,000-for-1,000 format has reached the final stage of preparation. According to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the parties have already agreed on a step-by-step plan for the implementation of this humanitarian operation, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing his post on the official Facebook page.
Despite all the complexity and sensitivity of the dialogue in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation worked within the framework and strictly adhering to the directives set by the President. The key result is a preliminary agreement on a 1000-for-1000 exchange. This is an important exchange that requires coordinated actions of all responsible state institutions,” Umerov wrote.
According to the head of the defense ministry, the entire national resource was involved in organizing the exchange – from law enforcement agencies to humanitarian services.
In particular, Umerov noted that on May 17, a meeting of the Coordination Headquarters Council for the Treatment of Prisoners of War was held, where all aspects of preparation – security, humanitarian, and logistical – were considered in detail. The meeting identified specific tasks for each of the institutions involved in the coming days. The Ministry of Defense, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Ombudsperson were involved in coordinating the process.
This exchange will be the largest in the history of the full-scale war. The agreement was first announced after a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on May 16.
The Minister of Defense emphasized that the exact date of the exchange has already been determined, but is not disclosed for security reasons. At the same time, the head of the Defense Intelligence Service, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the exchange could take place in the coming days, probably by the end of this week.
“It all depends on technical nuances, but there is political will on both sides,” Budanov said.
“The Security Service of Ukraine has already started implementing the operational phase of the exchange. Preparations are underway for transportation, identification and health checks of future returnees. They are also preparing the infrastructure to receive the released Ukrainian servicemen, including medical facilities. In addition, efforts are underway to ensure that the released defenders have access to psychological assistance and reintegration into society.
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What preceded it
The first direct talks between representatives of Ukraine and the Russian Federation in three years took place on May 16 in Istanbul. The meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, was an important event amid the ongoing war and the absence of direct high-level dialogue since 2022. Despite limited expectations, the two sides discussed two key issues: a possible exchange of prisoners of war and the conditions for a potential ceasefire.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the discussion of the prisoner exchange was constructive. He also acknowledged that the agreement on the “1000 for 1000” format was one of the results of the Istanbul talks.
Despite some progress in the humanitarian sphere, the parties did not report any concrete agreements on a ceasefire. However, experts see the very fact that direct dialogue has resumed as a “trial reconnaissance” before possible broader negotiations in the future. The Ukrainian side has clearly stated that its priority is humanitarian issues, while the strategic conditions for peace remain far from being agreed upon.
The previous official talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by Turkey, took place in March 2022, when the parties met in Istanbul, but did not make significant progress. The May talks, according to political analysts, are intended to show the international community that the parties are ready for at least a limited dialogue amid international initiatives to resolve the conflict.
How many Ukrainian soldiers were released from Russian captivity
According to the Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, a total of 4757 Ukrainian citizens have been released by the Coordination Center as part of the negotiation process and exchanges since March 2022. A total of 64 prisoner exchanges have taken place since then.
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