Another prisoner exchange deal reached between Russia and Ukraine: 103 soldiers released from each side
Russia and Ukraine conducted another prisoner exchange today, with 103 soldiers released from each side, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian soldiers were transferred to Belarus for medical treatment. Kyiv has not yet given a detailed response. The deal follows a series of previous exchanges but does not indicate a breakthrough in negotiations.
Russia and Ukraine conducted another prisoner exchange today (Wednesday, August 19, 2026), with 103 soldiers released from each side, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry said the United Arab Emirates mediated between Moscow and Kyiv and helped complete the deal. Moscow's Defense Ministry said the 103 released Russian servicemen were first transferred to Belarus, where they are expected to receive medical treatment and assistance before returning to Russia. Ukrainian media reported the Russian announcement, and in the first hours after its publication, no detailed response had been given by Kyiv. The deal comes after days of contacts over resuming prisoner exchanges between the countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said two days ago that his people are working to hold more exchanges and that he hopes to see "results soon." In the background is a dispute between the sides over the identity of prisoners to be returned. Last week, Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova published a list of 224 Ukrainian prisoners that Moscow claims it is ready to release, and accused Kyiv of rejecting Russian proposals. Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets dismissed the claims, calling them "cynical lies," while stressing that Ukraine seeks to return all its citizens held in Russia. Prisoner exchanges remain one of the few areas where Russia and Ukraine continue to reach agreements even as broader political negotiations are stalled. In May, the sides reached a preliminary agreement, mediated by the United States, on exchanging 1,000 prisoners from each side. Since then, several rounds have been carried out, including deals of 205, 185, and 160 soldiers from each side. The current deal does not indicate a breakthrough in negotiations to end the war, but it continues the active humanitarian channel between Moscow and Kyiv.