**Ukraine Secures Release of 303 Prisoners in Major Prisoner Swap with Russia**
In a significant development, Ukraine has successfully completed a massive prisoner exchange program with Russia, bringing back 303 prisoners of war. The final phase of the 1000-for-1000 swap was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 25.
The exchange, which took place in three phases over three days, was agreed upon during peace talks held in Turkey on May 16. This marked the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in three years. The prisoner swap is a concrete outcome of these talks, despite Russia’s refusal to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
**A Long-Overdue Repatriation**
The returning prisoners include members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Special Transport Service. According to Zelensky, the repatriated men also included 70 individuals who had bravely defended Mariupol during the Russian siege in 2022.
This prisoner exchange is a testament to Ukraine’s determination to bring back its citizens from Russian captivity. The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs stated that since March 2022, a total of 5,757 Ukrainian prisoners have been returned through negotiations and exchanges, while another 536 Ukrainians had returned through other means.
**A Step Forward in Diplomacy**
The prisoner exchange program is the only concrete agreement to arise out of the direct talks held last week. Ukraine and the United States had pushed for Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, but Moscow “categorically” rejected this appeal. Despite this, the prisoner swap demonstrates that diplomacy can still yield positive results.
This development comes as a relief to many families who have been waiting anxiously for their loved ones to return home. As Zelensky noted in his social media post, Ukraine will continue to work towards bringing back every single one of its people from Russian captivity. The successful completion of this prisoner exchange is a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict.
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