**Ukraine Recovers Soldiers from 46 Units Long Blocked by Russia in 1,000 for 1,000 POW Exchange**
In a significant breakthrough, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned. This comes as part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, which was agreed upon during the May 16 peace talks in Istanbul.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), over 300 Ukrainian service members had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. All those returned were soldiers or sergeants who had fought in the most intense areas of the front line.
The exchange, which took place in three phases between May 23 and 25, marked the largest single prisoner swap during the war. It is also the only concrete result from the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in nearly three years.
However, not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the 1st Azov Corps, criticized the exchange as a “mockery,” noting that no Azov fighters were included in the release. Thousands of civilians and military families have spent two years campaigning for the release of Azov servicemen captured during the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
**A Complex and Unprecedented Operation**
While Ukraine has previously conducted smaller prisoner exchanges, often with the involvement of third-party mediators, the Istanbul-negotiated swap was unprecedented in scale and complexity. Kyiv had long advocated for an “all-for-all” exchange, but Moscow has so far rejected the proposal.
According to Andrii Yusov, military intelligence spokesperson and deputy head of Ukraine’s POW Coordination Headquarters, Kyiv had no influence over which individuals Russia chose to release during the process.
“We could not influence the list. Russia handed over who it was ready to hand over, and Ukraine as well,” Yusov said.
**A Mixed Reaction**
The high-profile operation has drawn a mix of relief and frustration in Ukraine. Some have praised the move, while others are upset that no Azov fighters were included in the release.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s only a small part of what we’re fighting for,” said a Ukrainian soldier who wished to remain anonymous. “We need an all-for-all exchange, and we need it now.”
Others have expressed concern about the continued detention of Azov servicemen and the lack of progress on prisoner exchanges.
**A Developing Story**
The situation is still unfolding, with Ukraine and Russia continuing to engage in negotiations over further prisoner exchanges. In the meantime, both sides are escalating their military actions, with Russia launching a large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in recent days.
Stay tuned for updates as this story continues to develop.
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