Moscow, October 2, 2025 (Agencies) – In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 185 military personnel each in the latest round of prisoner swaps, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday. The exchange also included the release of 20 Ukrainian civilians, although it remains unclear whether Russia reciprocated with civilian releases.
According to the official statement, the repatriated individuals are currently receiving medical and psychological assistance in Belarus, which facilitated the humanitarian process. The swap was conducted in accordance with bilateral agreements reached on July 23 in Istanbul, during Türkiye-hosted direct talks between the two nations.
This exchange follows multiple rounds of prisoner swaps held both before and after the three Istanbul dialogues earlier this year. Moscow reiterated its willingness to release Ukrainian prisoners of war on a reciprocal basis, contingent on equal compensation from Kiev.
In addition to live exchanges, both sides have conducted repatriations of fallen soldiers. The most recent such exchange in mid-September saw 1,000 bodies of Ukrainian troops returned to Kiev, while Russia received 24 bodies of its personnel, highlighting a disparity in battlefield casualties.
Russian officials have described the prisoner exchanges as constructive diplomatic gestures, but have simultaneously accused Ukraine of obstructing broader negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government continues to urge Western allies to impose further sanctions on Russia and increase military and financial support, asserting that such measures are essential to counter Moscow’s military advantage.
The latest swap underscores the human cost of the war, now entering its third year, and reflects the limited but ongoing channels of engagement between the two adversaries.