First POW Exchange of 2025 Between Russia and Ukraine Mediated by UAE

After setting a record of mediation and prisoner exchange in 2024, the recently UAE completed its first prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia in 2025. This is the first round of exchange for 2025. Officials confirmed that  25 prisoners of war from each side returned to their homeland. 

This exchange is part of the UAE’s continuing efforts of a series of swaps between Russia and Ukraine, which started after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

On Wednesday Defense Ministry of Russia also announced on Telegram channel that 25 Russian servicemen had been returned home from Ukraine. In exchange 25 Ukrainian servicemen were handed over. 

He stated, “as a result of the negotiation process, 25 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return, 25 Ukrainian servicemen were handed over.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared that the returning group included soldiers who defended Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant, a key site captured by Russia in 2022. Some of the returnees were civilians, though Russia insists it only released soldiers.

Zelensky wrote in his X handle, “Bringing our people home is a mission we will never stop working on.” He also shared a few pictures of this exchange. 

Zelensky highlighted that many of the returnees had severe injuries and illnesses. After this Russia stated that soldiers were receiving medical and psychological care in Belarus before returning home. Videos shared by Russian officials showed emotional reunions, including a soldier speaking to his mother and another receiving a call from his wife.

Russia and Ukraine credited the Middle Eastern nation United Arab Emirates for mediating the exchange.