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Ukraine brings home 205 POWs in prisoner exchange with Russia

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by Tim Zadorozhnyy
Ukraine brings home 205 POWs in prisoner exchange with Russia
Ukrainian POWs arrive inside Ukraine after being released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on May 6, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)

Ukraine secured the return of 205 soldiers in a one-for-one prisoner exchange with Russia that was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Telegram on May 6.

"Ukraine has returned 205 soldiers. Young men and adult men from almost all types and branches of the military. The defenders of Mariupol and the defenders of the entire front line," Zelensky wrote.

This marks the fifth known prisoner of war (POWs) swap of 2025 and the 64th since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

"Every day, we fight for our people. We will definitely do everything to return each and every one of them," the president added.

Article image
Ukrainian POWs arrive inside Ukraine after being released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on May 6, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
Article image
Ukrainian POWs arrive inside Ukraine after being released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on May 6, 2025. (Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)

The latest exchange follows a larger April 19 swap, when 277 Ukrainian soldiers returned home ahead of the Easter holiday.

Ukraine does not reveal the exact figures on how many Ukrainian POWs are held in Russia. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Russia holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians in detention.

In 2024, Kyiv proposed an all-for-all exchange of prisoners, but Moscow rejected the offer.

A night with the medics of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade on Kharkiv Oblast front
Editor’s Note: Due to the security protocols of the brigade featured in this story, Ukrainian soldiers and military medics mentioned are identified by their callsigns only. KHARKIV OBLAST – As is usually the case at stabilization points across Ukraine in the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale war, peak hour for the
The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell
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Tim Zadorozhnyy

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Tim Zadorozhnyy is a reporter at The Kyiv Independent, covering foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations and European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa, working there for two years from the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half at the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor.

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