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Zelenskyy: 500 Prisoners of War Could Be Exchanged With Russia This Weekend

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Zelenskyy: 500 Prisoners of War Could Be Exchanged With Russia This Weekend
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's President, at a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

A new exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to take place on May 7 and 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a press briefing on May 4.

Accordion to Zelenskyy, Russia has signaled readiness to return 500 Ukrainian service members, though Kyiv has not yet received the official lists.

“Russia informed us that this weekend—on Saturday and Sunday—they could return 500 of our soldiers from the previously agreed thousand-plus,” Zelenskyy said. “We are ready on our side to proceed with a reciprocal exchange.”

However, he noted that Ukraine is still waiting for the official lists of individuals Russia plans to hand over. “Once again, we haven’t received the lists. There are always some reasons, but we will insist on receiving them in advance. It’s important for us to know who exactly is being exchanged,” the President said.

Zelenskyy emphasized that for Ukraine, the identity of those returned is crucial.

Following the exchange of prisoners, the two sides are expected to begin preparing for the repatriation of soldiers’ remains. Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian officials possess documentation showing that Russia has identified only 15 to 20% of the bodies in its custody.

“In Istanbul, we agreed on the need for clear identification. Ukraine does not play games when it comes to our soldiers and our fallen,” he stressed.

“It’s essential that we receive the remains of Ukrainian soldiers, not Russian ones that Moscow wants to dispose of—we’ve seen this happen before. That’s why, after the prisoner swap, we’ll begin preparations for the exchange of bodies.”

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange all seriously ill prisoners of war and those under the age of 25, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov following the talks in Istanbul on June 2.

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