World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
Russia and Ukraine exchange 270 prisoners each
On Oct.
23, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 prisoners of war each in the latest swap between the countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said nine civilians were also among those Ukraine was bringing home, while Ukraine’s ombudsman reported that seven civilians returned.
Most of the military personnel had been held since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Five Ukrainian prisoners returned in the swap had previously been believed by officials to have died in an explosion at a detention facility in Olenivka.
Prisoner swaps remain one of the few channels of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv during the war.
Russia said its returned servicemen were in Belarus and would receive medical and psychological assistance before going to Russia; Russian planes carrying them later landed in the Moscow Region.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 prisoners each on October 23, according to reports from both countries.
The exchange took place at the Novaya Guta border crossing in Belarus, according to Belarusian state media cited by The Moscow Times.
Nine civilians were among those Ukraine was bringing back, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
Most of the servicemen returned to Ukraine had been held since 2022, authorities said.
Russia said its released servicemen were in Belarus for medical and psychological assistance before returning to Russia.
- Who
- Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war.
- What
- Each side handed over 270 prisoners.
- When
- October 23, 2026.
- Where
- At the Novaya Guta border crossing in Belarus, according to Belarusian state media cited by The Moscow Times.
- Why
- The sources describe it as a prisoner exchange but do not state a specific reason for the exchange.
Ukraine
Russia
Olenivka detention facility explosion
Ukraine
Ukraine accused Russia of committing a war crime with a strike that killed dozens of prisoners.
Russia
Russia said Ukraine had fired at the camp.
A prisoner exchange deal was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, and Zelenskiy said it was expected to involve 2,000 prisoners of war in total.
Russia and Ukraine held talks with U.S. negotiators, according to the Straits Times.
Russia and Ukraine repatriated the remains of 277 fallen soldiers at the Novaya Guta border crossing in Belarus.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 prisoners each.
- Exchange
- 270 prisoners from each side
- Date
- October 23, 2026
- Location
- Novaya Guta border crossing, Belarus
- Ukrainian civilians
- Nine were among those Kyiv was bringing back, according to Zelenskiy
- Russian servicemen
- Held in Belarus for medical and psychological assistance before returning to Russia
- Returned remains
- 277 fallen soldiers repatriated on October 22
6 sources
Planes with Russian soldiers returned from Ukrainian captivity land in Moscow Region
Ukraine and Russia each exchange 270 prisoners of war
Russia and Ukraine swap 270 prisoners each
روسيا وأوكرانيا تتبادلان 540 أسيراً
Russia and Ukraine Exchange 540 POWs
270 Ukrainian POWs return home in latest swap with Russia
What people are saying
We remember one and all and continue searching for everyone
We express our gratitude to the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates, and in particular, we thank everyone who contributed to the release of Stephen Hubbard — a 74-year-old English teacher from Izium who was unlawfully convicted and subjected to torture by the Russians
On Oct. 23, 270 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime
In exchange, 270 POWs of the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over.