Russia and Ukraine Exchange 103 POWs Each

Aug. 19, 2026 @V_Zelenskiy_official / Telegram Russia and Ukraine exchanged 103 prisoners of war each following mediation from the United Arab Emirates, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The exchange, which Ukraine did not immediately confirm, is the first to have taken place between the two warring countries since June. Russia’s military said its servicemen who were released on Wednesday are currently in Belarus undergoing medical and mental health evaluations. Yana Lantratova, Russia’s human rights chief, said she met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Lubinets during the prisoner swap. “We exchanged lists of missing persons, discussed documentation matters and agreed on the next humanitarian shipment of care packages,” Lantratova wrote in a post on Telegram. She also shared photos and videos of her meeting with Lubinets, which took place in Belarus. Both Russia and Ukraine have released hundreds of prisoners of war since the start of the year through mediation from the United States and the UAE. Read more about: Prisoners of war , Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Investigation Reveals Systematic Torture of Ukrainians in Russian Prisons Journalists identified 29 facilities, with 11 in occupied Ukraine and 18 inside Russia, some as far as 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. 2 Min read Ukraine Says Russia Bombs Mariupol School Sheltering 400 City authorities also claimed that some residents of Mariupol were being forcibly taken to Russia and stripped of their Ukrainian passports. Russian Strikes Hit West Ukraine as U.S. Urges China to Get Tough Moscow expands a bombardment campaign that has intensified allegations of war crimes. Poroshenko Says Ukraine Has Fulfilled Minsk Agreements Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Monday that Kiev has fully implemented the Minsk agreements, the RBC news agency reported. The Ukrainian...