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In the ongoing conflict, the situation regarding hostages remains critically important. Ukraine has emphasized the "all for all" exchange formula in peace process negotiations, aiming for the return of all hostages, including prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and deported children. A recent agreement activated the Istanbul accords, enabling the exchange of 1,200 prisoners from Russian captivity. These efforts reflect Ukraine's persistent commitment to rescuing its citizens. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have secured significant tactical victories, capturing multiple hostiles in varied operations. The humanitarian aspect of the conflict underscores the broader geopolitical dynamics at play. These releases are vital for maintaining morale and showcasing humanitarian resolve in the face of ongoing adversity.

What is the significance of the "all for all" exchange formula in Ukraine?

The "all for all" exchange formula is significant as it represents Ukraine's commitment to bringing all its citizens back from captivity, reflecting profound humanitarian priorities in the conflict. This approach was emphasized within the peace process, aiming for the simultaneous exchange and release of all prisoners, civilian hostages, and deported children. Negotiations continue to solidify these exchanges, showcasing a unified intent to prioritize the humane and strategic aspects of international diplomacy.

How did the Istanbul agreements facilitate recent prisoner exchanges?

The Istanbul agreements played a crucial role in facilitating recent prisoner exchanges by providing a structured framework for negotiation between Ukraine and Russia. Under this agreement, the focus was on releasing significant numbers of captives. For instance, the successful exchange involved the release of 1,200 Ukrainians from Russian custody, marking a tangible progress in diplomatic negotiations driven by these accords.

What role do military captures play in the Ukrainian conflict narrative?

Military captures provide strategic advantages and offer psychological victories, reinforcing Ukrainian resolve and territorial gains. Recent captures by Ukrainian forces, such as those by the 67th Mechanised Brigade and the Special Operations Forces, illustrate operational successes on the battlefield, disrupting adversarial plans, and undermining opponent morale. These accomplishments amplify tactical positioning and showcase effective military strategy in action.

How do prisoner exchanges affect international perceptions of the conflict?

Prisoner exchanges significantly impact international perceptions by highlighting humanitarian efforts amidst warfare. Such exchanges, underscored by agreements like those reached in Istanbul, depict cooperative efforts towards conflict resolution, garnering global attention and potentially influencing diplomatic relations. They serve as diplomatic instruments, reflecting commitment to humanitarian principles and showcasing a nation's capability to engage in constructive peace processes despite underlying tensions.

What challenges do humanitarian missions face in the conflict zones concerning hostages?

Humanitarian missions encounter significant challenges, such as restricted access to detention sites and prevalent misinformation, complicating the verification and assistance processes. Russian-imposed limitations often prevent international organizations from adequately monitoring conditions or delivering aid. Moreover, manipulation by fake organizations disrupts effective humanitarian intervention. These complications necessitate strategic international responses to ensure transparency and accountability in hostage situations.

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News hostages

Lubinets Russia provides list of civilians taken from Hrabovske, no children among them – Lubinets Russia has provided a list of citizens it took from the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region. Negotiations are currently underway to return these people to the territory of Ukraine. 1 904 8 Previously in trend: Russia evacuated 50 civilians

Status of prisoners of war: Lubinets shared what they are saying in Russia In Russia, they say that participants in "special military operation" cannot be prisoners of war because there is no war, - Lubinets Representatives of the Russian Federation say that anyone fighting against Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation cannot be considered a prisoner of war because, allegedly, no war has been declared. 6 249 43 Previously in trend: Detention conditions of POWs

Lubinets on exchanging everyone for everyone Within framework of peace process, Ukraine insists on formula of "all for all" exchange, - Lubinets Within the framework of the peace process and humanitarian track, Ukraine insists on the return of all its citizens—prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and deported children. 411 4 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Returning children from occupation

soldiers captured occupiers Two fighters from 67th SMB captured six occupiers in Oleksandrivka direction. VIDEO During search and rescue operations, two soldiers from the 3rd Mechanised Battalion of the 67th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine captured six Russian servicemen in the Oleksandrivka direction. This became known from a live stream published on 8 December 2025. 5 688 30 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Ukraine’s defence forces secure key areas of Vovchansk Southern part and eastern and western outskirts of Vovchansk are under control of Defence Forces – 16th Army Corps Ukraine’s Defence Forces control the eastern, western and southern parts of Vovchansk, as well as the settlements of Lyman, Vilcha and Synelnykove in the Kharkiv sector. 780 0 Previously in trend: Battles in Vovchansk

SOF fighters destroy SRG SOF fighters eliminated Russian saboteur and captured two occupiers during special operation. VIDEO A unit of the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine carried out effective special operations, during which a sabotage and reconnaissance group of Russian troops was detected. 6 988 7

African mercenaries in the Russian army Fighters capture three Russians and African mercenary from Russian army: " F#cking morons! I’m supposed to be home, but because of you b#stards I’m here!". VIDEO In the Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) successfully beat back another Russian assault attempt. During the fighting, troops from the 127th Separate TDF Brigade and the 247th Separate TDF Brigade captured four occupiers. 11 771 21 Previously in trend: Captured Russian mercenaries

Georgians capture two Russians Georgian soldiers in Armed Forces of Ukraine captured two Russian infantrymen in Vovchansk direction. VIDEO A unit of Georgian fighters serving in Ukraine’s Defense Forces captured two Russian infantrymen during a clearance operation on the Vovchansk front in Kharkiv region. 7 063 10 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Umierov Ukraine and Russia agree to resume agreement on exchange of 1,200 prisoners, - Umierov Ukraine and Russia have agreed to activate the Istanbul agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war. This involves the release of 1,200 Ukrainians from Russian captivity. 2 200 15 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Footage of GUR fighters clearing enemy positions in the Lyman direction DIU special unit "Artan" conducted clearance operation against occupiers in Lyman direction. VIDEO A video shared online shows the DIU special forces unit "Artan" storming and clearing enemy positions in the Lyman direction. 3 900 4 Previously in trend: Destruction of the occupiers captured occupiers Elimination of Russian occupiers

Two Russian occupiers Two occupiers can’t grasp they’ve been captured: "Where are our weapons?" - "You’re prisoners, wake up.". VIDEO Ukrainian soldiers captured two occupiers who were heading to reinforce a seized position. 22 172 30 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Soldiers captured a Russian Soldiers of 63rd SMB captured occupier: "I didn’t shoot. I was looking for food. I haven’t eaten for six days". VIDEO Soldiers of the 63rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine tracked down and captured a Russian occupier. 8 824 13 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Occupiers surrender Five occupiers surrender to soldiers of 5th SAB. VIDEO Units of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade successfully conducted assault operations in one of the frontline areas. 3 200 2 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Soldiers capture occupiers near the village of Vilne in Donetsk Oblast Three Ukrainian soldiers captured seven Russian occupiers near village of Vilne in Donetsk Oblast. VIDEO During the clearing of dachas near the village of Vilne, Donetsk region, three Ukrainian stormtroopers from the 25th separate assault battalion "Lynx" captured seven Russian soldiers at once. 7 724 23 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Border guards in the Pokrovsk direction captured the occupier "Guys, don’t come here. This is not your war": captured occupier gives "advice" to invaders. VIDEO In the Pokrovsk direction, border guards captured another occupier who tried to "earn money for repairs". 3 966 9 Previously in trend: interview with captured occupier captured occupiers

Prisoner exchange on 1 October Ukraine and Russia carry out prisoner swap: 185 defenders freed. VIDEO+PHOTOS On October 2, Ukraine brought back another group of prisoners of war from Russian captivity. 6 274 13 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Mykolaienko on Russian captivity Former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko on Russian captivity: They beat us and fed us just enough so we wouldn’t starve to death. We picked nettles to get at least some vitamins Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko has lost 25 kilograms while in enemy captivity. 2 645 5 Previously in trend: Russians hold former mayor of Kherson captive

DIU "We don’t take prisoners, shoot them," commander of occupiers gives order to execute captured Ukrainian soldiers. AUDIO Another war crime of the occupation army was recorded by Ukrainian intelligence officers. In an intercepted conversation, the commander of a Russian unit gives an order to execute captured Ukrainian servicemen. 6 883 38 Previously in trend: Execution of Ukrainian POWs

The FSB actively uses the families of prisoners for PSYOPs Russians use relatives of captured and missing soldiers to gather intelligence and carry out special tasks Russian special services are actively hunting down the families of captured and missing Ukrainian military personnel. 793 2 Previously in trend: Detention conditions of POWs Ukrainians in Russian captivity

Prisoner exchange. Who is Russia giving up besides the military? Russia sometimes transfers citizens convicted of common criminal offenses to Ukraine as part of prisoner exchange, - Deputy Prosecutor General Leshchenko As part of prisoner exchanges, Russia sometimes transfers citizens convicted of general criminal offenses to Ukraine. 1 542 12 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Mykolaienko on Russian captivity Do not exchange us for territory – former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko. VIDEO Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who recently returned from Russian captivity, spoke at a farewell dinner for Andrii Parubii in Kyiv. 5 393 7 Previously in trend: Murder of Andrii Parubii

Border guards in the Pokrovsk direction captured Russians Border guards captured nine occupiers in Pokrovsk direction, - State Border Service of Ukraine. VIDEO On 24 August, on the Independence Day of Ukraine, soldiers of the rapid response of border commandant's office of the Chernihiv border detachment repelled another attack by Russian occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction. 6 407 4 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Azov soldiers describe what is happening in the Pokrovsk direction Reconnaissance troops of 1st Corps of NGU "Azov" captured ruscists who killed Ukrainian soldier: situation in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO Reconnaissance men of the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Chervona Kalyna" captured a group of Russian occupiers. 16 933 14 Previously in trend: Russian assault on Pokrovsk direction Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers

Exchange Among those released from captivity on 24 August were former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko and journalists Khyliuk and Kaliush. PHOTOS As part of the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko and journalists Dmytro Khyliuk and Mark Kaliush were returned home from Russian captivity on 24 August. 7 078 53 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Exchange Another prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. PHOTOS On Sunday, 24 August, a prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Soldiers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and civilians are returning home to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Most of them have been in captivity since 2022. 8 041 38 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Ukrainian soldier killed at the front line a few days before his father’s return from captivity Soldier killed in battle few days before his father’s return from three years in Russian captivity. PHOTO The sad news came from the Zaporizhzhia sector: a soldier, Yaroslav Boichuk, son of the famous Mariupol defender Oleksandr Boichuk, was killed while performing a combat mission. 5 187 7 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine

War Captured Russians spoke about failure of offensive on Pokrovsk and inhumane conditions in Russian army. VIDEO Three Russian soldiers — Artem Smirnov, Sergey Morgunov, and Eldar Zakiev — were captured by Ukrainian defenders during combat operations near Pokrovsk. They were part of different small assault groups, but they all ended up in the same place. 8 361 14 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Prisoner exchange on 14 August 2025 What is known Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners: 84 people, including military personnel and civilians, freed. VIDEO&PHOTOS Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange. They managed to free 84 people, both military and civilians, from Russian captivity. 4 349 6 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Prisoner exchange on 23 July Last defender of Zmiinyi Island has been returned from captivity - Coordination Headquarters. PHOTO During today's prisoner exchange, the last defender of Zmiinyi Island returned to Ukraine. 4 738 11 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

POW swap Ukraine and Russia carried out prisoner exchange. Seriously ill and severely wounded defenders return home – Zelenskyy. VIDEO&PHOTOS On July 23, a POW swap took place between Ukraine and Russia. Seriously ill and severely wounded defenders were returned home to Ukraine. 6 195 15 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Umerov Over 1,200 people to participate in humanitarian exchange between Russia and Ukraine – Umerov The delegations of Ukraine and Russia at the negotiations in Istanbul discussed the next stages of prisoner and civilian exchanges. 1 645 13 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Negotiations in Turkey

headquarters, coordination, coordination center Ukrainians released from captivity will be able to help establish places of detention of prisoners - Coordination Center The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has launched a feature that allows released Ukrainians to help identify the whereabouts of other prisoners. 524 0 Previously in trend: Ukrainians in Russian captivity

occupiers, prisoners 24th Brigade soldiers capture paratroopers of Russia’s 98th Division in Chasiv Yar. PHOTOS Soldiers of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo captured paratroopers of the Russian Federation’s 98th Division in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region. 9 002 10 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

war Russians fighting for Ukraine captured African mercenary in Zaporizhzhia direction. VIDEO Fighters of the "Freedom of Russia" legion, fighting on Ukraine’s side, captured a 29-year-old Nigerian who was sent to war by the Russian authorities after being threatened with imprisonment for drug trafficking. 6 161 21 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Skala regiment fighters captured occupiers Nine captured Russian soldiers. Failed attack by occupiers on Dnipropetrovsk region. VIDEO The "Skala" regiment's assault fighters captured nine Russian Armed Forces soldiers in two days of fighting. The Russian military tried to gain a foothold beyond the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, but thanks to decisive actions and good planning, the "Skala" fighters managed to defeat the enemy. 6 793 13 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Butusov Plus

A marine’s barehanded fight with the occupier Ukrainian marine Kharkevych recounts capturing occupier: "I’m sitting in pit, and one of bodies runs past in front of me. I hit him in nose with my rifle butt and dragged him in towards me". VIDEO During a hand-to-hand fight, he captured a Russian soldier and thwarted at least 10 assaults by the Russian army. In May 2025, 27-year-old marine Vasyl Kharkevych from the village of Maleve in the Rivne region received the "Golden Star" Hero of Ukraine from Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hands. 6 028 7 Previously in trend: Awarding the title Hero of Ukraine

war "Joy" of freed captive occupiers turned out to be staged. VIDEO Another exposé of the Russian propaganda machine has been posted online - a draft video showing the staged emotions of Russian soldiers released from captivity during the exchange. 28 481 76 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Zelenskyy’s address There is agreement that prisoner exchanges will continue next week, - Zelenskyy. VIDEO President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that prisoner exchanges would continue next week, at least this is the agreement. 769 5 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Zelenskyy’s address

prisoner exchange Defenders liberated from captivity have injuries and health problems, most of them are Mariupol defenders, most of them are officers - Coordination Center Today, the next stage of a large exchange of prisoners in the category of "wounded and seriously ill" took place in accordance with the agreements in Istanbul. 3 146 6 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

occupier Captured by Ukrainian Armed Forces, occupier admits to being satanist – returned to Russia in POW swap. VIDEO While Kremlin propaganda claims that Russia is waging war in Ukraine "for the Orthodox faith," some occupying soldiers in its own army turn out to be satanists. One of them, Danil Sergeevich Garan, was captured by Ukraine’s Armed Forces and returned to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange on June 9. 6 969 26 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Prisoner exchange on June 10 All Ukrainian defenders liberated today have serious injuries and serious illnesses - Coordination Center Today, on June 10, the first stage of the exchange of prisoners in the category of "seriously wounded and seriously ill" took place in Istanbul under the agreements with Russia. 4 180 7 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Captive Ukrainians Unidentified persons call relatives of our prisoners and urge them to appeal to international organizations and White House - Coordination Center Another wave of calls to relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war has been recorded. Unidentified persons introducing themselves as "representatives of the Russian authorities responsible for the exchange" are trying to exert pressure and manipulate the trust of the relatives of our defenders. 1 425 4 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

war Security Service of Ukraine releases exclusive footage of POW swap. VIDEO+PHOTOS On June 9, Ukraine carried out another prisoner exchange. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) released exclusive photos and videos from the event, capturing emotional moments of Ukrainian defenders returning home. 5 853 4 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Ukraine and Russia begin prisoner exchange – Who was released first? Umerov on POW swap: Phased return of specific categories of POWs planned Today, June 9, 2025, the first stage of a large-scale POW swap took place as part of the agreements reached in Istanbul. 1 679 9 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Ukraine and Russia to exchange prisoners on June 9, 2025 Mariupol defenders who spent more than 3 years in captivity are among those liberated today - Coordination Center Today, June 9, 2025, the first stage of the prisoner exchange took place under the agreements in Istanbul. 3 806 6 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russia has still not provided complete lists of more than thousand prisoners whose exchange was agreed in Istanbul, - Zelenskyy Russia has not yet provided full lists of more than a thousand prisoners of war, the exchange of which was agreed upon in Istanbul. 2 678 22 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

POW swap Ukraine and Russia agree on preliminary timeline and mechanisms for new POW swap – DIU During negotiations held in Istanbul on June 2, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement on a new prisoner exchange. Specifically, the sides coordinated the timeline and mechanisms for implementation. 1 143 1 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

POW swap on 24 May Ukraine and Russia agree to exchange all severely wounded POWs and individuals under 25 – Umerov During the second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2, Ukraine and Russia agreed on new prisoner exchanges under the "all for all" format, focusing on specific categories: the severely wounded and seriously ill, as well as youth aged 18 to 25. 4 326 11 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Negotiations in Turkey