Budanov Signals New Prisoner Swap by Week’s End

Following the return of 182 Ukrainians on Saturday, Kyiv is preparing a subsequent exchange phase as officials warn that the Orthodox Easter ceasefire is unlikely to hold. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Head of Ukrainian Presidency Office Kyrylo Budanov arrives with the delegation at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on January 6, 2026, prior to the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov announced on Sunday, April 12, that a new prisoner exchange is being prepared for the end of next week. Speaking to Novyny.LIVE , Budanov explained that the previous swap on April 11, which brought home 182 citizens, was conducted as soon as possible to ensure defenders could spend Easter at home. “The other side did not quite have time to prepare everything. There was no way to wait,” Budanov said, noting that purely bureaucratic hurdles delayed a larger group. “I hope that another stage will take place somewhere by the end of next week.” Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The announcement follows the 72nd successful prisoner exchange , which included 175 military personnel and seven civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously confirmed that the group included defenders of Mariupol and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, many of whom had been in captivity since 2022. However, Budanov expressed a grim outlook regarding the current 32-hour holiday ceasefire. He noted that a major breakthrough in long-term stability is unlikely, citing Russia’s history of violating previous religious holiday truces. “Unfortunately, this [long-term ceasefire] will not happen,” Budanov stated. “It was the same several years ago. It was violated many times... I think nothing will change and it will be the same today.” The skepticism in Kyiv is bolstered by reports from the General Staff, which recorded hundreds of Russian strikes in the initial hours of the “holiday silence.” Despite the volatile front line, prisoner swaps remain one of the few functional areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow, often mediated by the UAE and the US. Other Topics of Interest Russian Forces Execute Four Ukrainian POWs Near Kharkiv Amid Easter Ceasefire The 14th Army Corps reported the summary execution of captured servicemen in the Derhachi community, a move Kyiv calls a systemic violation of the Geneva Conventions. As the current truce approaches its expiration at the end of Sunday, Ukrainian forces remain on high alert. For the families of those still in captivity, Budanov’s confirmation of upcoming talks offers a rare sign of hope amid the ongoing regional instability and the collapse of broader peace negotiations between US and Iran in Islamabad . Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.