A new phase of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia may occur as early as next week, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, indicated that preparations for the next exchange are already underway following the return of 182 Ukrainian prisoners on April 11. He expressed optimism that the next exchange could take place by the end of the week, citing only bureaucratic procedures as the remaining hurdle.
This anticipated exchange follows a significant operation conducted just before Easter, where Ukraine successfully repatriated 175 military personnel and seven civilians. The released individuals had been detained across various fronts, including Mariupol, Chernobyl, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk.
Among those freed were individuals of varying ages, with the youngest being 22 years old and the oldest 63. The group included members from different branches of the Ukrainian military, including the Navy, Ground Forces, Territorial Defense, Airborne Forces, Air Forces, State Border Service, and the National Guard.
Additionally, seven civilians who had been held captive by Russian forces since 2022 were also returned to Ukraine. Reports indicate that while Ukraine aimed to secure the release of a larger number of individuals, Russia declined to accommodate this request.
A new prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia is anticipated next week, following a recent exchange that returned 182 Ukrainian detainees. The ongoing negotiations highlight the complexities of repatriating individuals held since the onset of the conflict.