Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner exchange on Thursday, August 14, freeing 84 captives each in one of the year’s most significant swaps.
The release comes on the eve of a high-stakes summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the freed group included both civilians and military personnel, some detained as far back as 2014.
Among them were “defenders of Mariupol,” referring to soldiers who held the southeastern port city before it fell to Russian forces in 2022.
“I’m back in my homeland. Honestly, I never thought this would happen,” said 29-year-old Ukrainian marine Mykyta Kaliberda after regaining his freedom.
Families of the released described years of emotional strain and uncertainty.
Tetiana Turkoman, whose son fought in Mariupol, said, “My eldest son was in captivity for three years, four months, and two days. Thank God, we awaited him.”
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the exchange, revealing it was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
Freed Russian personnel were filmed wrapped in national flags aboard a bus in Belarus, with officials stating they were receiving medical and psychological care.
Moreover, the swap adds to a series of prisoner exchanges that have been among the few consistent results of talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
Large-scale deals followed three negotiation rounds in Istanbul between May and July. Last month, the two sides agreed to swap 1,200 prisoners each.
Furthermore, a Russian negotiator disclosed that Moscow had offered to return the remains of 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the ongoing war.
Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on that proposal.
The timing of the exchange has drawn attention, occurring just hours before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska —the Russian leader’s first trip to Western soil since the 2022 invasion.
