The head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, indicated that Kyiv is engaging in prisoner exchange talks with Moscow under a format that aims to swap everyone for everyone. He said that the discussions are moving forward and that Kyiv is beginning to feel the process edging closer to a concrete deal. This update came from Strana.ua, a Ukrainian news outlet.
Budanov stressed that Ukraine has already repatriated more than 2,200 individuals as part of ongoing exchanges. He framed the current discussions as a major milestone in the history of prisoner swaps, noting that such exchanges have traditionally taken place after active hostilities have ceased rather than during a conflict’s course. In his view, this makes the present talks unprecedented on the global stage.
Following the Easter prisoner exchange, a notable number of people—130 individuals—were brought back to Ukraine. This recent exchange was part of a broader pattern of negotiations and exchanges that have periodically punctuated the war, shaping the human dimension of the conflict and offering moments of relief for families and communities affected by the fighting.
Earlier reports mentioned that five Chechen servicemen from the Sever-Akhmat regiment of the Russian Ministry of Defense had died. After their release from Ukrainian captivity, officials and relatives traveled to Chechnya to meet the returning soldiers, underscoring the poignant, personal impact of these exchanges on the families involved and the communities tied to them across the region.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to launch a military operation described as protective measures for Donbass, prompted by requests for assistance from the heads of the LPR and DPR. This move was presented as a justification for imposing new sanctions by the United States and its allies, complicating diplomatic relations and intensifying the economic and political dimensions of the conflict. The announcement set in motion broader strategic consequences that have continued to shape international responses and the humanitarian landscape surrounding the war.