Ukraine confirms start of large-scale prisoner swap with Russia

Ukraine and Russia have carried out the first stage of a large-scale prisoner exchange agreed in Istanbul last week, swapping 390 people each on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.

“The first stage of the ‘1000-for-1000’ exchange agreement has been carried out. Today — 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue,” Zelensky says in a post on X.

We are bringing our people home. The first stage of the “1000-for-1000” exchange agreement has been carried out. This agreement was reached during the meeting in Türkiye, and it is crucial to implement it in full.

Today – 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the… pic.twitter.com/OPIXycWcbA

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 23, 2025

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