Ukraine and Russia complete 350-person prisoner exchange mediated by UAE ahead of Easter truce

Ukraine and Russia exchange 175 POWs each in a UAE-brokered deal on April 11, 2026. Learn about the returning Mariupol and Chornobyl defenders.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 10:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Interfax-Ukraine

A Breakthrough Swap in the Lead-Up to Easter

In a major humanitarian development on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Ukraine and Russia conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 350 individuals. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of 175 Ukrainian servicemen, including members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and border guards. The exchange, which took place just hours before a scheduled 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire, marks one of the most significant diplomatic successes between the warring nations in recent months. The returning group includes a mix of privates, sergeants, and officers, many of whom are reportedly suffering from wounds sustained during their prolonged detention.

Repatriation of Long-Term Captives and Civilians

According to the Ukrainian President, a majority of the returned personnel had been in Russian custody since the earliest stages of the invasion in 2022. These "warriors" were captured while defending critical fronts including Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv. In addition to the military personnel, seven Ukrainian civilians were brought back as part of the deal. Zelenskyy emphasized that bringing every captive home remains a "matter of principle" for his administration, while thanking the frontline units whose capture of Russian personnel continues to replenish Ukraine’s "exchange fund."

Russian Reciprocity and UAE Mediation

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the transaction, stating that 175 Russian service members were repatriated from territory controlled by the "Kyiv regime." Mirroring the Ukrainian side of the deal, Russia also reported the return of seven civilians, specifically identifying them as residents of the Kursk region who had been detained during recent border incursions. Both nations credited the United Arab Emirates for its critical role as a mediator. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the successful swap was a result of its ongoing diplomatic efforts to leverage its "strong ties" with both Moscow and Kyiv to alleviate the humanitarian impact of the four-year conflict.