An agreement between Russia and Ukraine led to the release of a total of 314 prisoners, marking the first coordinated prisoner exchange between the two countries in five months, according to sources involved in the negotiations. The operation was finalized following two days of trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi, with mediation by the United Arab Emirates and the active participation of the United States.
As part of the exchange, 157 Russian soldiers returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory, while Ukraine confirmed the recovery of 157 members of its armed forces, maintaining parity in the swap. The Russian Ministry of Defense, cited by the Interfax news agency, reported that the released Russian servicemen were initially transferred to Belarus, where they received psychological and medical assistance before being transported to the Russian Federation.
Russian authorities also announced the release of three Russian civilians who, according to Moscow, had been detained illegally by Ukraine. Interfax noted that the agreement extended beyond military personnel and included the repatriation of civilians, underscoring efforts to address various cases of detention that have arisen since the start of the conflict.
According to official statements, the Russian soldiers will undergo further treatment and rehabilitation at medical facilities under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The agency emphasized that strict medical and security protocols are being followed to ensure the safe reintegration of the returned personnel.
International mediation played a decisive role in securing the agreement. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff publicly confirmed the exchange hours after the talks concluded, stating that “the delegations of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed today to exchange 314 prisoners, the first such exchange in five months.” Witkoff described the outcome as the result of “detailed and productive peace talks” and noted that, while significant challenges remain, such steps demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement can produce tangible results.
Witkoff also indicated that discussions are expected to continue in the coming weeks and that provisional progress may be achieved. In his public remarks, he thanked the government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the negotiations and acknowledged U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership in facilitating the agreement.
