KYIV, Ukraine — On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine conducted a significant prisoner exchange, each releasing over 100 prisoners of war as Kyiv celebrated its third Independence Day since the full-scale invasion by Moscow.
The Ukrainian government reported that 115 Ukrainian servicemen were freed, many of whom were conscripts taken prisoner in the initial months of the conflict. This group includes nearly 50 soldiers captured at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that 115 Russian soldiers, captured in the Kursk region during a recent Ukrainian offensive, were released. These soldiers, currently in Belarus, are expected to be transported to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the United Arab Emirates facilitated the exchange, marking the 55th such operation since the invasion began in February 2022. Zelenskyy’s post on X included photos of the released servicemen, visibly gaunt and wrapped in Ukrainian flags, and reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to recovering all detained individuals.
The exchange of prisoners and bodies is a rare point of contact between the two nations, typically involving extensive negotiation and diplomacy. Neither side discloses the total number of prisoners currently held.
The United Nations has reported that Ukrainian POWs frequently face medical neglect, mistreatment, and torture. While there are also isolated cases of abuse against Russian soldiers, most incidents occur during capture or transport.
Ongoing Conflict and Attacks
Despite the prisoner exchange, the conflict continues to inflict heavy casualties and damage. On Saturday, Russian shelling in Kostiantynivka, a city in Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, killed five people and injured five more. In Kherson, Russian shelling claimed two lives and injured four, including a baby. The northeastern Sumy region also saw fatalities from Russian drone attacks and shelling.
Ukraine’s air force intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the southern regions of the country. Additionally, Russian long-range bombers targeted Zmiinyi (Snake) Island with cruise missiles, and the Kherson region suffered aerial bombardments.
In Russia, the Defense Ministry reported the interception of seven drones overnight, with five downed over the Voronezh region, wounding two people. In Belgorod, two people were injured in a drone attack, while no casualties were reported in Bryansk. The Kursk region also saw missile interceptions on Saturday morning.
Independence Day and Commemorations
As Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day, commemorations focused on remembering those lost in the ongoing war rather than celebratory festivities. President Zelenskyy announced the successful combat use of a new domestically produced drone, the “Palyanitsa,” and described recent actions in the Kursk region as a preventive strike to avoid encirclement of Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Polish President Andrzej Duda visited Kyiv early Saturday, underscoring Poland’s continued support for Ukraine. Duda’s visit, his fifth since the conflict began, highlighted Warsaw’s commitment to aiding Ukraine and supporting refugees. Poland has been a key ally, providing arms, serving as a transit hub for Western weapons, and hosting the largest number of Ukrainian refugees outside Germany.
Despite some historical tensions and recent trade disputes over Ukrainian grain, Poland’s support for Ukraine remains a critical aspect of the broader international backing Ukraine receives in its struggle against Russian aggression.
