Moscow/Chernihiv, Ukraine: Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 307 service personnel on the second day of an extended prisoner swap set to be the largest in the three-year war.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the swap could herald a new phase in stop-start efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv. There should be 1000 prisoners released on each side over three days.

Saturday’s swap was announced by Russia’s defence ministry and separately by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on social media platform Telegram.

Olena and her husband Oleksandr Negyr embrace after his release from a Russian prison after 22 months. Credit: Getty Images

“Tomorrow we expect more,” Zelensky wrote. “Our goal is to return each and every one of us from Russian captivity.”

Summary Largest prisoner swap in three-year war

Trump suggests swap could lead to peace negotiations

Moscow to submit peace talks memorandum after POW swap

MOSCOW/CHERNIHIV, Ukraine, May 24 (Reuters) – Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 307 of their service personnel on Saturday on the second day of an extended prisoner swap set to be the largest in the three-year war

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the swap could herald a new phase in stop-start efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv. There should be 1,000 prisoners released on each side over three days.

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Saturday’s swap was announced by Russia’s defence ministry, and separately by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a post on social media platform Telegram.

“Tomorrow we expect more,” Zelenskiy wrote. “Our goal is to return each and every one of us from Russian captivity.”

Reuters Television footage showed freed Ukrainian servicemen at a rendez-vous point inside Ukraine coming off buses draped in blue and yellow national flags as waiting family members chanted “Welcome!”

Serviceman Dmytro Havrylenko held his son, and his mother, in a very long embrace. “I am shocked to be honest,” he said. “These were 17 difficult months, very difficult. But everything is fine.”

Women held up photos of missing servicemen and gathered around returnees to ask about their whereabouts.

Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) are seen as they return after a swap, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

One woman, identifying herself as Yana, said no one had any news of her husband, missing since Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last year.

“Maybe the boys will recognise his photo and share some information,” she said. “We’re here for the second day. Maybe today.”

Footage released by Zelenskiy’s office showed one released serviceman in tears and being consoled by a woman in military uniform. People assigned to greet the soldiers handed them cellphones, so they could call relatives. “I can’t believe I’m home,” one man said.

A short video released by the Russian defence ministry showed Russian service personnel disembarking from buses and posing with the Russian flag, as well as the flags of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

The first part of the exchange took place on Friday when Russia and Ukraine each released 390 prisoners, including 120 civilians, and said they would free more in the coming days.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would be ready to hand Ukraine a draft document outlining conditions for a long-term peace agreement once the current prisoner exchange was completed.

Saturday’s release took place a few hours after the Ukrainian capital was rocked by an overnight Russian bombardment using long-range drones and ballistic missiles, in which 15 people were injured.

The prisoner exchange was agreed at short-lived talks in Istanbul on May 16 between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, who had come together at the urging of Trump.

Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Ron Popeski and David Gregorio

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Russia and Ukraine had the second phase of their latest prisoner exchange on Saturday, May 24, just hours after an overnight attack on Kyiv. The Associated Press reported that this set of swaps is the biggest prisoner exchange of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been happening for more than three years now.

It came after direct talks between the countries during the week of May 11 in Istanbul. While the prisoner swap deal was agreed upon, a ceasefire was not.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, another 307 people were brought home from his side. Russia’s defense ministry said it also took back 307 people.

The day before, each country released 390 in what officials said is a “1,000 for 1,000” exchange.

More exchanges are set to occur on Sunday, May 25, Zelenskyy said on X Saturday, May 24.

“In just these two days, 697 people have been brought home,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Among those who returned today are warriors from our Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard of Ukraine. I thank everyone involved in the exchange process, those who have been working around the clock. Our goal is to bring every single person back from Russian captivity. We continue cooperating with our partners to make this possible.”

Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, shared a video on social media of released soldiers shouting “Glory to Ukraine – Glory to the Heroes!” and “Ukraine above all,” per the Kyiv Post.

Some of the newly released prisoners were held in captivity since 2022, Yermak said.

Meanwhile, a video released by the Russian defence ministry and reported on by Reuters had Russian service members getting off buses and posing with their country’s flag.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, May 23, that once the current prisoner swap is done, Russia would be ready to give Ukraine a draft document with conditions for a long-term peace agreement, according to Reuters.

Overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine

Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones at Ukraine starting on Friday, May 23 and going into Saturday, May 24. Ukrainian troops shot six missiles and “neutralized” 245 drones, the AP said, in what the Kyiv City Military Administration called a “difficult night for all of us.”

The Military Administration said it marked one of the biggest missile and drone strikes on Kyiv to date.

“Residential buildings in Kyiv are damaged, and at least 15 people have been injured,” Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on X on Saturday, May 24 at around 1 a.m. CT.

Sybiha added that this is “clear evidence” that increased sanctions on Moscow are necessary. Still, in a later post, the Foreign Affairs Minister added that the prisoner exchange was a “confidence-building measure” that is important to “advance the peace process.”

There were 13 civilians killed in Russian attacks in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Region; southern Odesa and Kherson regions and northeast Kharkiv region, the BBC wrote.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces took down 100 drones from Ukraine in six western provinces and in southern Russia as well.