Russia and Ukraine Exchange 538 War Prisoners

The UAE-brokered prisoner exchange was made on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour Easter cease-fire.

A freed Ukrainian prisoner hugs a relative after an exchange at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19, 2025. Tetiana Dzhafarova / AFP via Getty Images

Russia and Ukraine exchanged a total of 538 prisoners of war on April 19, in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry.

Each side agreed to release 246 of their war prisoners to the other side in what amounted to a one-for-one swap. Moscow agreed to release another 31 injured Ukrainian troops, while Kyiv agreed to release 15 injured Russian troops.

The UAE’s Foreign Ministry described it as the largest prisoner exchange since the outbreak of fighting between the two countries more than three years ago.

In all, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry said it has now helped facilitate the release of 3,771 prisoners between the two countries.

“I thank everyone who made this return of our people possible. I am especially grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their mediation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Saturday social media post.

The Ukrainian leader shared a video and photos of the released Ukrainian troops, who wrapped themselves in the flag of their homeland upon their return.

Kyiv appears to have released its Russian captives to Belarus. Russia’s Ministry of Defense published footage of its returning troops on Saturday and said they would receive psychological and medical care on Belarusian territory.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the prisoner exchange “a truly Christian gesture on the eve of the Great Feast!”

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a unilateral Easter cease-fire to run for 30 hours from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday through Sunday.

In a statement shared by the official Kremlin Telegram channel, Putin said his cease-fire order was guided by humanitarian considerations on the Christian holy day.

Zelenskyy reported Russian forces were operating attack drones over Ukrainian airspace at around 5:15 p.m.

“Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life,” the Ukrainian leader wrote in a post on social media platform X.

In a subsequent post hours later, Zelenskyy reported Russian forces continued to attack along multiple frontline sectors. Zelenskyy said their artillery fire also has not subsided.

While he continued to express doubts about Putin’s declared 30-hour cease-fire, the Ukrainian leader suggested Russia could extend the truce to provide a real measure of trust between the warring countries. Zelenskyy noted a proposal the Trump administration put forward last month for a 30-day cease-fire. Putin had initially expressed interest in the U.S.-backed proposal but stopped short of taking the offer.

“If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20. That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions—because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance,” Zelenskyy wrote.

On Friday, President Donald Trump indicated he could pull back from his efforts to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine if he doesn’t see progress soon.

“If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump said.