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Ukraine and Russia Prepare Major 1,000-for-1,000 POW Exchange
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Ukraine has handed Russia a list of 1,000 prisoners of war as part of preparations for a planned “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner exchange mediated by the United States.
In a statement published on Telegram on May 10, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said the list was compiled based on the length of time Ukrainian servicemen and servicewomen have spent in Russian captivity since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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“Following the results of negotiations mediated by the United States that took place recently, Ukraine provided the Russian side with a ‘list of 1,000,’ formed according to the principle of the duration of captivity of Ukrainian defenders since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” the statement said.
The agency noted that the principle of prioritizing prisoners based on time spent in captivity had been repeatedly agreed upon by authorized negotiators from both Ukraine and Russia.
“This is a fair humanitarian approach carried out with the participation and support of the United States of America, demonstrating to the entire world the Ukrainian state’s care for its defenders and serving as one of the steps toward a just peace,” the Coordination Headquarters said.
The headquarters added that negotiations are ongoing and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information outside official channels in order to preserve the effectiveness of the process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed that preparations for the exchange are underway.
In his evening address on May 10, Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains in contact with the United States regarding guarantees for implementing the agreements reached during recent negotiations.
“The prisoner exchange—one thousand for one thousand—is being prepared and must take place. The Americans assumed responsibility for these guarantees,” Zelenskyy said.
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“There was American mediation in this agreement on the exchange, and accordingly we expect the American side to play an active role in ensuring the implementation of these agreements,” he added.
On May 8, US President Donald Trump has announced a proposed three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, scheduled to run from May 9 to May 11.
According to Trump, the temporary agreement provides a complete suspension of hostilities and includes a simultaneous exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war from each side.
“This truce will include the cessation of all hostilities, as well as the exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war from each of the countries. This request was made directly by me, and I greatly appreciate its approval by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” Trump said.
He described the initiative as a possible step toward ending the war, adding that discussions on a broader settlement of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are ongoing and that negotiations are gradually moving closer to a potential resolution.
During the previous prisoner exchange on April 24, Ukraine brought back 193 service members from Russian captivity, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.
“193 Ukrainian defenders are returning home as part of a prisoner exchange,” Zelenskyy said, noting that those released include personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the National Police, and the State Special Transport Service.
According to the president, the freed prisoners had defended Ukraine on various sections of the front line. The group also includes wounded servicemen and individuals against whom Russian authorities had initiated criminal proceedings.
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