Ukraine Returns 390 Prisoners in First Phase of 1,000-for-1,000 Exchange

Ukraine has repatriated 390 of its citizens from Russian captivity in the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal with Russia.

The exchange is part of the “1,000-for-1,000” agreement reached earlier this month.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the development on Thursday, calling it a significant step forward.

“We are bringing our people home,” he said. “The first part of the 1,000-for-1,000 agreement has been carried out. The deal was reached in Turkey, and it is crucial to fully implement it. Today 390 people have returned. We expect the exchange to continue on Saturday and Sunday.”

Of those released, 270 are the members of Ukraine’s defense forces, including personnel from the Armed Forces, Navy, State Border Guard Service, Territorial Defense Forces, and the National Guard.

The former prisoners had been captured while defending positions in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Kherson sectors, as well as during earlier battles in the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions.

The group includes three women and 387 men.

Upon return, they will undergo medical examinations and receive assistance with physical and psychological rehabilitation. They are also entitled to back pay for the period spent in captivity and will be supported through reintegration programs.

The prisoner exchange was agreed upon during negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations held in Istanbul on May 16.

According to Ukrainian officials, it could become the largest such exchange since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The previous day, Andrii Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine had completed its preparatory work for the exchange. All relevant agencies are involved in implementing the multi-stage plan.

On May 17, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced it had prepared a list of Russian prisoners eligible for transfer back to Russia.

On April 19, Ukraine conducted a separate exchange that brought home 277 defenders, including those who had fought in Mariupol — soldiers, sergeants, and officers.