Ukraine and Russia Conduct Eighth Prisoner Exchange on July 4, Returning Mostly Wounded Held Since 2022 Under Istanbul Deal

Ukraine and Russia have conducted multiple prisoner of war (POW) exchanges in recent weeks, with the latest confirmed on July 4, 2025. These swaps are carried out under agreements reached during talks in Istanbul earlier this year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that most of the returned prisoners had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. The exchanges have included soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Transport Service, as well as civilians.

Many of the freed prisoners are wounded or seriously ill. The regions where these defenders fought include Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that groups of Russian soldiers held by Ukraine have also been returned, with some receiving medical care in Belarus before transfer to Russia. This latest swap marks the eighth stage of prisoner exchanges under the Istanbul agreements, reflecting ongoing efforts by both sides to repatriate captives amid the conflict.