Russia

What to know about new '103 for 103' POW exchange between Russia, Ukraine

TASS English · 2026-08-19

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on August 19, with each side returning 103 servicemen, facilitated by humanitarian mediation from the United Arab Emirates. • Why it matters: This exchange highlights ongoing efforts to negotiate the release of prisoners amid the ongoing conflict, reflecting the humanitarian concerns for the well-being of military personnel on both sides. • What to watch next: Future negotiations regarding additional prisoner exchanges are anticipated, as lists of individuals for potential exchanges are being prepared and discussed by both countries.

What to know about new '103 for 103' POW exchange between Russia, Ukraine The Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus© Russian Defense Ministry Press ServiceMOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Russia has returned 103 servicemen from the Kiev-controlled territory and handed over 103 prisoners of war to Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said. TASS has compiled the main details about the exchange. Prisoner exchange - On August 19, Russia returned 103 military personnel from Ukrainian captivity, the Defense Ministry said. - It handed over 103 prisoners of war to Ukraine. - The United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation, the ministry added. - The Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus. - Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova is assisting them. - After receiving necessary psychological and medical assistance, the servicemen will be transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation. Statements by the ombudsman - Among the Russian fighters returned from Ukraine, "there are fathers with many children, and there are very young guys," Lantratova said. - Of these, "31 wounded servicemen were returned." - She said that "everything possible will be done to ensure that our defenders return home." - Now the returned fighters "need treatment, care, and time to recover," Lantratova told reporters. Preparation for the exchange - Earlier, Lantratova said that Ukraine is guided by a selective principle when deciding on the return of its citizens as part of prisoner exchanges. - "Lists are currently being approved -- separately for the military personnel and separately for civilians," she said earlier in an interview with TASS. - "Separate negotiations are being conducted for each list." - On August 12, Lantratova published a list of 224 people whom Ukraine refuses to accept as part of the exchange. - On August 13, Lantratova published another list of 273 Ukrainian military personnel whom Russia is ready to hand over as part of an exchange at any time. Previous exchanges - On June 26, Russia returned 160 Russian military personnel from Ukrainian captivity; in return, 160 Ukrainian military personnel were handed over to Ukraine. - On June 5, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners under a "185 for 185" formula. - On May 15, 205 Russian military personnel were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over. - On May 8, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said that Russia had agreed to US President Donald Trump’s initiative for a truce with Ukraine from May 9 to May 11 and to conducting a prisoner exchange with Kiev during this period in the "1,000 for 1,000" format. - Even before Trump’s proposal, Russia had sent Ukraine a plan for an exchange of prisoners of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 9. - On May 9, Ushakov said that Russia and Ukraine were actively working on lists of prisoners of war, and if agreements were reached, the exchange would begin. 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Source: TASS English
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