Friday's exchange of prisoners took place under the 1000 contract for 1000, to which Ukraine and Russia agreed during direct talks in Istanbul, initiated by US President Donald Trump.
Kiev kept this process in a strict secret due to the fears of the security of the first 270 soldiers and 120 civilians who were to be mentioned on the border with Belarus. In the city of Czernihów in the north of Ukraine, hundreds of women and children anxiously waited for signs that their loved ones would soon come back to them.
“The great exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine has just ended. It will come into force soon. Congratulations to both sides of the negotiations. It can lead to something great ???” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday.
In fact The first stage of the exchange of prisoners has not yet begun when Trump published his entry.
“Trump wanted to be the first to provide this information,” said Politico anonymously an anonymous official. – Luckily [pośpieszny wpis Trumpa] It had no influence – he added. – We usually don't inform you about ongoing exchanges, because you never know with the Russians. Our boys were too close to the enemy.
The defense minister of Ukraine, Rust Umerow, thanked Trump for helping to exchange. Kyiv is constantly striving for US involvement in activities for peace in Ukraine.
Continuation of the material under the video
The exchange of prisoners has become The only great success of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Shortly after the exchange, Russia attacked Ukraine with 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles, while claiming that after the exchange of prisoners of war, he will present its own version of the peace proposal. That same night Ukraine attacked Russia with 94 drones.
“Thank you, heroes”
A few hours before the attack, hundreds of women, men and children cheered with joy, seeing the first buses coming to the meeting place. For some, this day would become the happiest in life if they recognized their loved ones in the sea of skinny, exhausted and lost faces and shaved heads of former Russian prisoners. If not, it would be another tragedy.
Some were happy, waved flags and shouted: “Thank you, heroes” while others showed newly arrived soldiers portraits of their loved ones who could not be found.
– Almost six months of uncertainty. We came here in the hope that at least someone could see him in Russian prisons. Maybe some of them will recognize him after the photo, or maybe he heard his name – says Liubow Zabrodina, whose husband was missing on the front in December 2024.
PAP/EPA/STRINGER/PAP
Relatives and friends of Ukrainian prisoners of war welcome their loved ones after replacing prisoners in an undisclosed place in Ukraine, on May 23, 2025.
When the buses stop and the first soldiers get off, a joyful scream is heard nearby. Tetiana, a young woman waving the flag of Ukrainian maritime infantry, sees her husband's face.
– I haven't seen him since 2022 since Mariupol. I didn't know, my friends told me. I can't control my emotions. My heart is pounding, “Tetiana shouts happily, when a tired hand waves to her from the bus.
Most of the 390 Ukrainian prisoners released on Friday were in prison for three years. After leaving the buses, some were taken to hospital for treatment.
However, some remained to watch hundreds of photos of other people who were disappeared, such as Zabrodina's husband. For many they are the only spark of hope. Russia still does not reveal the exact number of prisoners captured in Ukraine.
The soldier of the National Guard Vitalij did not recognize anyone in these photos. By nervously burning a cigarette next to the bus, he admits that he did not believe that he would soon be free, even though he indicated a lot.
– They let us take a bath for 20 minutes instead of the usual five. They gave us new clothes. But I still didn't believe it until we landed in the homel [mieście na Białorusi, niedaleko granicy z Ukrainą] – reports Vitaly. – The Russians liked to cheat us while moving between prisons. They told us that we were going home. But it wasn't true. I think it was fun for them – adds a soldier who spent 22 months in Russian captivity.
When Witalij wondered how to get a new phone and call his wife, Ukraine was preparing for the next exchange.
While hundreds of mothers and daughters will again wait for their loved ones with hope, over 8,000 Ukrainians illegally detained in Russian prisons are waiting for their turn to be released.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
