Ukraine is set to welcome back 300 individuals from Russian captivity, according to Bogdan Okhrimenko, head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. This exchange is part of ongoing negotiations that took place in Geneva.
While Okhrimenko confirmed the return of these prisoners, he could not specify if any civilians would be included in this group. He stated, “This exchange is an agreement reached in Geneva. We are in communication with the Russian side, but unfortunately, the lists have not been adjusted… This is the second phase of a single process, as Russia could not transport everyone at once, leading to the proposal of two stages.”
During the current phase of the exchange, Ukraine has already received 50 severely ill and injured soldiers, most of whom had been held since 2024. This follows a previous exchange on March 5, where 200 Ukrainian military personnel were returned, marking the first stage of the Geneva agreement.
On the Russian side, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in negotiations with Ukraine, announced plans for a prisoner exchange involving 500 individuals on both sides, scheduled for March 5-6. While Ukraine expressed hopes for a swift exchange, no specific dates have been confirmed.
The last exchange occurred on February 5, resulting in the return of 150 military personnel and seven civilians, marking the first exchange of 2026. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, as of March 2, a total of 6,422 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity, including 409 civilians.
In February, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that approximately 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners are still held in Russia.
Ukraine is preparing for the return of 300 prisoners of war from Russia, following a series of negotiations. This exchange is part of a broader agreement established in Geneva, with ongoing discussions about the status of additional captives.