Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react following a prisoner swap at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, May 6, 2025. (EPA Photo)
In one of the biggest swaps since the war began, Ukraine and Russia did a prisoner of war exchange of 410 soldiers on Tuesday. Each country returned 205 captives. The exchange, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, took place at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange in a statement on Telegram. “Our people are free. Our people are home,” he wrote.
Massive Prisoner Exchange — Dozens of Captive Soldiers Return Home
The freed Ukrainians included three officers and 202 soldiers and sergeants. Many of them had defended strategic locations like Mariupol and other front-line areas. Their release brings hope and relief after months in captivity.
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that this marked the 64th swap since the invasion began. So far, more than 4,700 Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the exchange but provided no further details about its returning prisoners.
Fighting Rages On Despite Ceasefire Announcement
Even as this major prisoner exchange unfolded, violence persisted on several fronts. Ukraine reported over 200 clashes in the past 24 hours alone. The fiercest fighting took place near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces repelled 78 attacks.
Meanwhile, in the southern region of Odessa, a Russian airstrike on civilian infrastructure killed one person and injured another, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
Drone Attacks Hit Moscow and Other Regions
The conflict has also extended deep into Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it shot down 105 Ukrainian drones overnight across 11 regions. Nineteen were intercepted over Moscow.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that drone debris fell on a highway, though no injuries or major damage occurred. Other drones were shot down over the Voronezh and Penza regions. Again, no casualties were reported.
As a precaution, air traffic was temporarily suspended at Moscow’s four major airports. Airports in Kaluga, Saratov, and Volgograd were also affected.
Ceasefire Met With Skepticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to mark the May 9 Victory Day. The pause is meant to commemorate the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany. It runs from midnight Wednesday to midnight Saturday Moscow time.
However, Kyiv has dismissed the ceasefire as a hollow gesture. Ukrainian leaders argue that Russia continues to strike Ukrainian cities even as it calls for a pause.
“They ask for peace on May 9 but keep bombing us,” Zelenskyy said. “This is cynicism at its peak.”
War’s Toll Continues to Mount
More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains under constant threat. While Ukrainian drones target locations inside Russia, the scale of damage in Ukraine remains far greater.
The human cost on the Ukrainian side is staggering. The latest prisoner exchange is a rare moment of relief amid a devastating war that shows little sign of ending.
