Ukraine signals a continued willingness to engage in prisoner exchanges with Russia, underscoring that negotiations remain a key tool in shaping the fate of captured servicemen. Andrey Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Department within the Ministry of Defense, conveyed this stance during an appearance on the Rada TV channel. He stressed that despite the challenges that inevitably accompany any negotiation process, Kyiv intends to persevere in the exchange talks and to keep the dialogue with Moscow alive. The underlying message was clear: no party can prosper if the exchanges stall, and both sides must actively participate for any agreement to move forward.
Yusov explained that Ukraine prioritizes the return of its troops held by Russian forces and that Kyiv stands ready to reciprocate with the release of Russian prisoners in its custody. He asserted that the Ukrainian side has the capacity and the intention to hand over Russian detainees when conditions align with the broader framework of an exchange. The remarks reflect a broader strategy to secure the release of military personnel and to manage the humanitarian dimension of the conflict through structured, reciprocal exchanges.
On the same day, Andrei Kartapolov, chair of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, indicated that Moscow would persist in its efforts to recover Russian prisoners of war held on Ukrainian soil, even in the wake of a recent aviation incident in the Belgorod region. He suggested that Russian authorities would continue the dialogue necessary to bring captured personnel home, highlighting a determination that transcends individual security events. The official statement framed the issue as an essential component of confidence-building measures between the two sides, even as the incident tested operational logistics for any future exchanges.
Separately, reports have highlighted a significant development involving an Il-76 military transport aircraft. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian servicemen, three accompanying escorts, and six crew members when it was downed in the Belgorod region. The ministry described the incident as a deliberate act linked to the exchange operation, with the plan reportedly involving transporting Ukrainian fighters to Belgorod before they would be moved to a designated prisoner exchange zone. The sequence of events, as described by official Russian channels, underscores the high-stakes nature of coordinating complex prisoner transfer logistics across contested territories.
The Russian account further claimed that anti-aircraft missiles fired from the Kharkiv region were responsible for targeting the Il-76. This assertion places the blame on Ukrainian forces and frames the attack as a strategic setback to the planned exchange process. The incident prompted discussions about security assurances, flight routes, and the protection of captives during transport, all of which are central to any future negotiations.
In the days that followed, official Russian diplomacy reiterated a narrative that the Il-76 strike was intentional. A spokesperson from Moscow described the attack as a calculated move by Kyiv, prompting questions about risk, credibility, and the broader diplomatic context surrounding prisoner exchanges. Analysts note that such statements can influence perceptions on both sides of the conflict, shaping how future talks are framed and what concessions might be considered acceptable in the process.