Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner swap on Thursday, October 2, with both sides releasing 185 prisoners of war each, along with 20 civilians, according to official statements from Moscow and Kyiv.
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced via Telegram that “185 Russian servicemen have been returned” together with the civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, sharing images of freed Ukrainians wrapped in national flags. “Alongside our defenders, 20 civilians are also returning home. Everyone will receive all the support they need,” he said. Zelensky noted that since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, more than 7,000 Ukrainians have been brought back.
Prisoner exchanges have remained one of the few forms of cooperation between the two nations throughout the conflict. They were the main outcome of three peace talks held in Istanbul between May and July and have continued even without broader progress toward a settlement. Both sides have also engaged in returning the remains of fallen soldiers.
While tens of thousands of troops are believed to have died since the war began, neither country regularly releases official casualty figures.
