Ukraine's military actions lead to enhanced prisoner swaps with Russia   Institute for Study of War says

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted that Ukraine's offensive in Kursk region is likely to prompt Russia to participate more actively in prisoner-of-war (POW) exchanges.

On October 18, Ukraine and Russia conducted a one-for-one POW exchange, marking the fourth such exchange since Ukraine's operations began in the region in August 2024, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on October 19 that 95 Ukrainian POWs had been returned, including servicemen who defended the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol in early 2022, as well as members of the Ukrainian National Guard, State Border Service, and other branches of the armed forces. On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the return of 95 of its own POWs, facilitated by mediation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs reported that many of the returning Ukrainian prisoners are suffering from serious illnesses, severe injuries, and significant weight loss due to torture and malnutrition experienced during their time in Russian captivity.  

The ISW had previously observed a notable increase in the frequency of POW exchanges between Ukraine and Russia following Ukraine's offensive in Kursk region on August 6. Before the recent exchange on October 18, both sides had traded 267 POWs in three separate exchanges since that date, compared to just three exchanges between January 1 and August 6, 2024.  

Additionally, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk, Russia, during the night of October 18-19. Ukraine and Russia conducted a one-for-one POW exchange on October 18 – the fourth exchange since the start of Ukrainian operations in Kursk region in August 2024. 

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported on October 18 that Ukrainian authorities opened an investigation into the execution of a Ukrainian POW in Bakhmut district in September 2024. Russian forces recently advanced within the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk region and near Toretsk, Pokrovsk and the city of Donetsk.

By Naila Huseynova