Ukraine and Russia Exchange 175 Prisoners of War
19 March, 2025 Ukrainian Defense Forces. Photo from open sources Ukraine and Russia have carried out a prisoner exchange under a 175-for-175 formula, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
In addition to the 175 Ukrainian servicemen released under the exchange, 22 more defenders were freed through separate negotiations. Among them are severely wounded soldiers and individuals detained by Russia on fabricated charges. All released personnel will receive immediate medical and psychological assistance, Ukrainian authorities confirmed.
Ukrainian defenders return from Russian captivity.
March 19, 2025. Ukraine. Source: President of Ukraine
This is one of the largest prisoner exchanges to date, involving soldiers, sergeants, and officers from various military branches, including the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Navy, the National Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, and the Border Guard Service.
They fought in key battle zones, including Mariupol, Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kursk regions. "I thank our team working on prisoner searches and exchanges for their efforts and results that give hope. We are also grateful to all our partners, especially the United Arab Emirates, for facilitating today's exchange," Zelensky said.
Ukrainian defenders return from Russian captivity.
March 19, 2025. Ukraine. Source: President of Ukraine
On March 18, Zelensky confirmed reports of the planned exchange, calling it pre-arranged but still an important development for Ukraine.
"They said about the exchange of 175 people for 175. I knew about it, to be honest, and the Security Service and DIU, I received this information. This is our pre-thought-out exchange, but in any case, the exchange is great for Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Speaking on potential ceasefire discussions, Zelensky stressed that he would only take Russian President Vladimir Putin's words seriously if he agreed to release all Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Return of Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity.
March 19, 2025, Ukraine. Source: President of Ukraine
"I would start taking Putin's words seriously if he agreed to return absolutely all of our prisoners of war. This would be a gesture that he is ready to demonstrate his desire to stop the war.
We should not be afraid of our people who are in Russian prisons.
We want to treat them, rehabilitate them, and not return them to the battlefield.
Everything else is very fragile - we see what is happening with the ceasefire in the Middle East. "But the issue of prisoners of war is a real and tangible step that can be seen and believed," the President added.