In the largest prisoner swap since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 1,000 prisoners each over the course of three days, concluding on Sunday, May 25, 2025, according to statements from Russia’s Ministry of Defense and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The exchange, which began on Friday, primarily involved prisoners of war, including around 120 civilians from each side. On Sunday alone, 303 detainees were exchanged by each party, marking the final round of the historic deal.
“Today, fighters from our Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Service, and State Special Transport Service are returning home,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, sharing emotional footage of soldiers reuniting with loved ones.
This unprecedented exchange was the only tangible outcome of the recent peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first direct negotiations between the two sides since the start of the war. Both nations had agreed to the 1,000-for-1,000 swap as a confidence-building measure.
The conflict, now in its third year, has caused massive casualties. While official numbers remain undisclosed, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians also perishing, particularly in besieged and bombarded cities.
Despite the swap, Russia launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine during the weekend operation. According to Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, Russia fired 69 missiles and deployed 298 drones, including Iranian-made Shahed drones, in what he called “the largest aerial assault in terms of total weapons used” since the beginning of the invasion.
At least 12 civilians were killed, and dozens more injured in the second consecutive night of bombardments.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled that a draft proposal for a long-term peace agreement could be presented to Ukraine once the prisoner exchange was completed.
The international community, including the United States and EU nations, continues to call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to facilitate genuine peace talks.
