March 5, 2026

Russia and Ukraine Conducted a "200 for 200" Prisoner of War Exchange

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 200 prisoners of war each as part of agreements reached during negotiations in Geneva, as reported by the head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Medinsky, this is part of a larger exchange that will continue tomorrow, March 6. Over these two days, 500 prisoners of war will return to Russia and Ukraine. This information was also confirmed to 'Novaya Gazeta Europe' by Irina Krynina, coordinator of the 'Nash Vykhod' movement, who was present at the exchange. The Ukrainian military personnel who returned home after the exchange. Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram. Citing the Ukrainian state project 'Khochu Nayty,' she reported that 175 of those who returned to Russia today were captured in 2025. 54% of those exchanged were captured in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. From the Pokrovsk direction alone, 47 military personnel were exchanged. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the exchange took place with the mediation of the UAE and the USA.