Ukraine brings home 175 POWs in Easter Eve swap with Russia

Prefer on Google by Kateryna Denisova Ukrainian POWs leave a bus in the Chernihiv Oblast after a prisoner exchange on May 23, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images) Editor's note: The story is being updated. Ukraine has brought back home 175 soldiers and seven civilians held in Russian captivity in its latest exchange with Moscow, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 11. Russia's Defense Ministry also reported releasing 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in exchange for 175 Russian soldiers. The prisoner exchange occurs a day before Easter, which is observed by Orthodox Christians on April 12. In the meantime, trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. are paused as attention shifts to the Middle East conflict. President's Office Head Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Ukrinform on April 9 that despite this Kyiv maintains contact with Moscow on prisoner swaps. The last exchange took place on March 6.