Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Russia and Ukraine Exchange 103 Prisoners Amid Possible August Swap
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 103 captured soldiers each.
This means 206 people were able to return to their own countries.
Some Ukrainian prisoners said they had been held for many months or years.
They also said they knew very little about what was happening outside.
Ukraine expects that another prisoner exchange may happen before the end of August.
Ukraine hopes some soldiers who defended Mariupol will be included.
At the same time, both countries reported new attacks involving drones and missiles.
Each side blamed the other for strikes, but those reports could not be independently checked.
Russia and Ukraine each returned 103 prisoners of war on Wednesday.
Ukraine said those returning included military, border guard and National Guard personnel.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko said another exchange could happen before August ends.
Ukraine hopes the next swap will include long-held defenders, including Mariupol fighters.
Both sides reported deaths and injuries from overnight strikes, but the claims were not independently verified.
- Who
- Russia and Ukraine, including their captured military personnel.
- What
- The two countries exchanged 103 prisoners of war each.
- When
- The exchange took place on Wednesday; another swap was expected before the end of August.
- Where
- The prisoners returned to Russia and Ukraine; related reported attacks occurred in Ukraine's Kherson region and near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
- Why
- The exchange was part of regular prisoner swaps conducted during the war, despite continuing disagreements over peace terms.
Ukraine's Account
Russia's Account
Reported overnight strikes
Ukraine's Account
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia struck Ukraine's Kherson region, killing four people and injuring five.
Russia's Account
Rosatom said a Ukrainian strike hit a public transport stop used by Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant employees, killing one person and injuring 17.
Future prisoner exchange
Ukraine's Account
Oleh Ivashchenko said another exchange was expected before the end of August and could include long-held Ukrainian defenders.
Russia's Account
The article reports no equivalent Russian confirmation of the timing or proposed participants.
- Prisoners exchanged
- 103 from Russia and 103 from Ukraine
- Next possible exchange
- Expected before the end of August, according to Ukrainian intelligence
- Ukrainian returnees
- Included members of the Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service and National Guard
- Reported Ukrainian casualties
- Ukraine said a Russian strike in Kherson region killed four people and injured five
- Reported Russian-site casualties
- Rosatom said a Ukrainian strike near a transport stop for Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant workers killed one person and injured 17
- Verification
- The reported battlefield and civilian casualties could not be independently verified