Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, both nations move forward with a significant prisoner exchange despite contradictory claims, military escalations, and a record number of drone attacks from both sides.
At a Glance
- Ukraine and Russia are proceeding with a multi-stage prisoner exchange confirmed to begin next week, focusing initially on returning wounded soldiers and those under 25 years old
- The exchange follows negotiations in Istanbul and comes after a previous swap in May involving 390 soldiers and civilians
- Russia and Ukraine had previously accused each other of disrupting the repatriation of dead soldiers’ bodies and delaying prisoner exchanges
- Military actions continue to escalate with Russia launching a record 479 drones at Ukraine while Ukraine conducts targeted strikes on Russian airfields and military facilities
- Russian forces have advanced into Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, marking significant territorial movement beyond previously claimed areas
Exchange to Proceed Despite Conflicting Reports
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia will proceed as scheduled despite earlier claims from Russia that Ukraine had delayed the process. According to Budanov, the repatriation activities will begin next week following negotiations that took place in Istanbul. The exchange is set to occur in multiple phases, with priority given to the wounded, seriously wounded, and soldiers under 25 years of age.
“The start of repatriation activities based on results and negotiations in Istanbul is scheduled for next week, as authorised persons on Tuesday were informed,” stated Budanov. “Everything is moving according to plan, despite the enemy’s dirty information game,” he added.
Russia had previously accused Ukraine of postponing the return of 6,000 soldiers’ bodies and delaying the prisoner exchange. Russian officials claimed they had brought over 1,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to the exchange point and provided a list of 640 prisoners of war, but alleged Ukrainian negotiators failed to appear. Ukraine firmly denied these accusations, characterizing them as misinformation designed to disrupt the exchange process.
⛔️ Lie: “Ukraine disrupted the prisoner exchange and refused to take the bodies of the dead,” claimed Volodymyr Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating team.
✅ Fact: This statement is false and contradicts both the facts and the agreements reached. According to Ukraine’s…
— SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) June 8, 2025
Multi-Stage Process Underway
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the exchange as a complex operation that will unfold “in several stages” over the coming days. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the first group of Russian servicemen under 25 years old has already been returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory following the agreement reached in Turkey. These returned soldiers are now receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus.
“The process is quite complicated, there are many sensitive details, negotiations continue virtually every day,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
Families of missing Ukrainian soldiers have gathered near the Belarus border, hoping to welcome released prisoners and gain information about loved ones still in captivity. While Russia mentioned that a “similar number” of prisoners were returned to Ukraine, they did not specify the exact figure, highlighting the lack of transparency that continues to characterize many aspects of the conflict.
🤝 What Russia and Ukraine agreed on in Istanbul during round 2 of talks
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky shared the key outcomes of the negotiations with Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul.
Key statements:
🔸 Russia handed Ukraine a draft memorandum on settlement,… https://t.co/u7Vlk1M5Rt pic.twitter.com/KmUSzDlqRm
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 2, 2025
Diplomatic Progress Amid Escalating Conflict
The prisoner exchange represents a rare moment of diplomatic progress in a conflict that continues to intensify on multiple fronts. Melinda Haring from the Atlantic Council emphasized the significance of this development, noting that it could potentially serve as a trust-building measure between the warring nations. This exchange follows a previous swap in May that involved 390 soldiers and civilians from both sides.
“This is a big deal, because the prisoner exchange will be the largest that Ukraine and Russia have engaged in so far. And in the past, these exchanges have gone off pretty seamlessly,” noted Melinda Haring.
Military Actions Intensify on Both Sides
While diplomatic efforts focus on the prisoner exchange, military actions have intensified. Russia launched a record 479 drones at Ukraine, primarily targeting the Rivne region. Russian officials claimed the attack on Rivne’s Dubno base was retaliation for Ukraine’s drone operations against Russian airfields. Although the drone launches caused damage, no casualties were reported.
Ukraine has responded with targeted strikes on Russian military assets. Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian airbase in the Nizhny Novgorod region, reportedly damaging two aircraft. Additionally, Ukraine targeted an electronics factory involved in producing guidance systems for drones and bombs, causing a substantial fire and forcing the suspension of production activities. Russian forces have meanwhile advanced into Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, marking a significant development as this territory was not part of the regions Russia claimed after the 2022 referendums.
