Ukraine and Russia May Hold Large Prisoner Swap Soon, Budanov Says
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said a major prisoner exchange with Russia could happen as early as next week. He did not give details on the date or number of prisoners, and Moscow had not confirmed the plan at the time. Prisoner swaps remain one of the few areas of cooperation between the two sides.
On Aug. 24, ten Ukrainian service members returned through Belarus after being listed missing; two had been unaccounted for since 2024 and eight since 2025. Earlier, on Aug. 10, each side released 103 prisoners, including Ukrainian troops from several services who had fought in Mariupol and elsewhere.
In April, Ukraine secured 182 people in its 72nd exchange—175 military and seven civilians, some held since 2022, including defenders of Mariupol and Chornobyl. Budanov then attributed delays for a larger return to Russian bureaucracy. He has also said swaps remain a rare cooperative channel while broader peace efforts stall.
If a large exchange proceeds, it could bring relief to families of detained service members and civilians, though uncertainty remains because Moscow has not confirmed it. Communities awaiting missing soldiers may receive closure or renewed hope. The news could also reinforce a public sense that limited humanitarian cooperation continues despite stalled peace efforts. Without confirmed numbers or timing, expectations may be fragile, and disappointment could follow if the swap does not occur.