Russia and Ukraine completed a massive prisoner exchange over the weekend, marking the largest such swap since the war began in 2022.

A total of 1,000 detainees from each side were returned home in a rare moment of cooperation between the warring nations.

The final phase of the exchange occurred on Sunday, with both sides releasing 303 prisoners each. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the return of its servicemen, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on X, “303 Ukrainian defenders are home,” highlighting that the group included members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Special Transport Service.

The operation followed earlier exchanges on Friday and Saturday, with 390 and 307 prisoners released respectively by each side, bringing the total to 1,000 per country over three days. The coordinated effort was the result of face-to-face negotiations in Istanbul earlier this month, the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow in months. The agreement to free 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees from each side represents a rare diplomatic achievement in a conflict where ceasefire efforts have consistently faltered.

While the war continues with no immediate end in sight, this historic swap offers a glimmer of hope for humanitarian engagement. International observers view the exchange as a potential stepping stone for further dialogue, even as tensions on the battlefield remain unresolved. (ILKHA)