ISW assessed how the operation in the Kursk region impacted the prisoner exchange with the Russian Federation.

Ukraine and Russia intensify the exchange of prisoners of war

Analysts assert that the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region encourages Russia to participate in the prisoner exchange process.

This opinion was expressed by ISW experts.

According to the publication "Khvilya", Ukraine and Russia conducted the fourth prisoner exchange on October 18 since the beginning of the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region in August 2024. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukraine returned 95 prisoners of war.

The group of released prisoners includes fighters who participated in the defense of "Azovstal" in Mariupol, as well as members of the National Guard, employees of the State Border Service, and servicemen from other units of the Ukrainian army.

According to analysts, the frequency of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia has significantly increased since the start of the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region on August 6. It is mentioned that both sides have exchanged a total of 267 prisoners of war in three separate exchanges.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that on October 18, they returned 95 Russian prisoners of war with thanks to the UAE, who acted as intermediaries.

According to the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war, many of the prisoners who returned have severe illnesses, serious injuries, and have suffered weight loss due to torture and malnutrition in Russian captivity.

Only three prisoner exchanges before August

Compared to the beginning of 2024, the frequency of prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine has significantly increased. Only three exchanges of prisoners occurred before the start of the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region on August 6.

About 40% of the individuals who returned from captivity were considered missing.