Ukraine and Russia have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with both sides releasing 175 prisoners of war each, according to official statements from Kyiv and Moscow.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian detainees had been returned home, noting that many of them had been held in captivity since the early stages of the war in 2022. In a post on social media platform X, he described the return of prisoners as a matter of national importance and said efforts to bring all captives back remain a priority.
⚡️Ukraine brings home 175 POWs in Easter Eve swap with Russia.https://t.co/rrVPfxJFAm
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 11, 2026
Zelenskyy also mentioned the return of seven civilians, although it was not immediately clarified whether they were part of the same exchange group or released separately.
On the Russian side, the defence ministry confirmed the exchange, stating that 175 Russian soldiers had been returned from areas under Ukrainian control, while an equal number of Ukrainian prisoners were handed over in return. The announcement was made through a Kremlin-linked communication channel, according to international media reports.
The exchange comes at a time of continued conflict between the two countries, with both sides engaging in periodic negotiations on humanitarian issues despite ongoing hostilities.
The development also coincides with expectations of a temporary ceasefire linked to Orthodox Easter observances, scheduled to begin on Saturday. Observers say such exchanges often take place alongside limited humanitarian pauses, allowing both sides to recover detainees and address international pressure on prisoner treatment.
Prisoner swaps have remained one of the few consistent areas of agreement between Kyiv and Moscow since the start of the war, even as broader diplomatic breakthroughs remain elusive.
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The latest exchange is being viewed as a rare humanitarian gesture amid prolonged conflict, offering temporary relief to families affected by the war on both sides.