All articles tagged with #prisoner exchanges
Russia and Ukraine carried out another exchange of war dead, with Moscow handing Kyiv 1,000 Ukrainian bodies and Kyiv returning the bodies of 38 Russian soldiers; the regular swaps continue even as broader prisoner-of-war talks have stalled since October 2025, with both sides accusing the other of delaying progress.
Families of Ukrainian soldiers, particularly those from the Azov Regiment, are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones who are in Russian captivity. Despite ongoing prisoner exchanges, many soldiers remain detained, with suspicions that the Azov fighters are deliberately being held longer. The families endure a painful wait, with little information about the prisoners' well-being, and concerns about mistreatment and torture. Ukrainian officials are working to secure the release of all soldiers, while the families continue to advocate for their return.
Pope Francis has said that the Vatican is willing to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war, saying the Holy See had already helped mediate some prisoner exchanges and would do "all that is humanly possible" to reunite families. Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Francis at the Vatican and asked him to help return Ukrainian children taken following the Russian invasion. Francis recalled that the Holy See had facilitated some prisoner exchanges, working through embassies, and was open to Ukraine's request to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.