Russia and Ukraine Release 20 Prisoners of War

Aug. 24, 2026 Ukrainian servicemen following their release from Russian captivity on Aug. 24, 2026. @V_Zelenskiy_official Ukraine and Russia exchanged 10 prisoners of war each, officials in Kyiv and Belarusian state media announced Monday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling the swap a “special stage” of ongoing prisoner exchanges with Moscow. Belarusian state media reported that Minsk mediated the latest release of servicemen held in captivity. Russia’s Defense Ministry did not immediately confirm the exchange. On the Ukrainian side, two of the freed soldiers had been previously classified as missing in action since 2024 and eight since 2025, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said. The group included soldiers and sailors from the Ukrainian armed forces and national guard who had been fighting in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. “Today, as part of a special stage of the exchange, we are bringing back 10 of our warriors — through Belarus,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It’s very important that we managed to bring them back.” It was not immediately clear why Zelensky designated the swap on Monday as “special.” The latest release of prisoners came less than a week after Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 103 servicemen following mediation from the United Arab Emirates. At the time, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko said that another exchange was expected before the end of the month. 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. Repatriations of fallen soldiers and prisoner-of-war exchanges remain among the few channels of direct communication between Moscow and Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Read more about: Ukraine war , Prisoners of war 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 Russia and Ukraine Begin First Phase of Large POW Exchange Volodymyr Zelensky said both sides released 205 prisoners each on Friday, with more swaps expected in the near future. 1 Min read Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of Prisoners Ahead of Easter Truce The Russian Defense Ministry said that both sides exchanged 175 servicemen in a deal facilitated by the UAE. 1 Min read Russia, Ukraine Plan Easter Eve Prisoner Exchange on Saturday The two sides also exchanged POWs over the Orthodox Easter holidays last year. 1 Min read Russia, Ukraine Swap 100 POWs Each "All of them are ours, all of them are back on their native land," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. 1 Min read