**Ukraine’s Prisoner Exchange Sparks Outrage and Criticism**
A recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia has sparked controversy, with many in Ukrainian society expressing outrage and disappointment over the lack of fighters from the Azov Brigade and civilians among those released. The exchange, which took place over three days, saw 1,000 prisoners swapped, but only a handful were from the Azov Brigade.
Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, was scathing in his criticism on Facebook, calling the exchange a “mockery” due to the small number of Azov fighters involved. He argued that Ukraine needed to change its tactics and find new ways to secure the release of their citizens held captive by Russia.
The Azovstal Steel Plant defenders were ordered to surrender in 2022 after two months of constant bombardment, but hundreds remain in captivity. The lack of representation from the Azov Brigade among those released has sparked a heated debate in Ukraine, with many calling for more to be done to secure their release.
**Criticism and Disappointment**
Writer and journalist Stanislav Aseyev also criticized the exchange on Facebook, pointing out that it failed to include civilians who have spent over eight years in captivity. He noted that many of these individuals were taken prisoner after providing assistance to Ukrainian special services.
Aseyev’s comments highlighted the long-term effects of the war on civilians, with some having been held captive for more than a decade. His statement that “the list of hostages I handed over to President Zelensky back in January 2020 has remained a list” is a stark reminder of the slow pace of progress in securing their release.
**Zelensky’s Pledge and Russia’s Demands**
In response to the prisoner exchange, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to “bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity.” However, Ukraine has long advocated for an “all-for-all” exchange, which would see all prisoners released in a single swap. Russia has so far rejected this proposal.
The three-day prisoner exchange was negotiated by Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16th, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announcing that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after the completion of the exchange. However, details of these conditions remain unknown, with Russia having made maximalist demands, including the recognition of Crimea and four eastern regions as part of Ukraine.
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