Russia and Ukraine have kicked off what may become the largest prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange of the conflict.
Under a deal reached during direct talks in Istanbul on June 2, both nations agreed to swap at least 1,200 POWs and repatriate thousands of bodies of fallen soldiers.
On Monday, young prisoners under the age of 25 were the first to return home. The emotional scenes of reunion, captured on video and shared by both governments, offered a glimpse of humanity amid the devastation of a war now entering its fourth year.
In northern Ukraine, soldiers freed from Russian captivity were handed phones to call loved ones. “Hi mum, I’ve arrived, I’m home!” one soldier exclaimed through tears, in a moment that resonated across social media.
For some, the return of comrades brought more than personal joy—it also meant updates about those still in captivity. “Don’t worry, everything is okay with him,” one soldier reassured a crying relative during a call arranged shortly after his release.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed an equal exchange took place, with the freed Russian troops now in Belarus receiving medical and psychological care before heading home. Footage from Russian media showed jubilant soldiers waving flags and chanting “Russia! Russia!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that the first batch of returned POWs had arrived, and the process would take several more days to complete.
While fighting continues, Russia claims to have advanced in Dnipropetrovsk and Ukraine reports massive drone strikes the POW exchange stands out as a moment of dignity and shared humanity in a brutal war.
