According to Reuters, this is the first concrete step towards peace, achieved after a rare direct talks between the two sides in more than 3 years, although there has been no ceasefire agreement.
According to information from both Russia and Ukraine, the initial exchanges included 270 soldiers and 120 civilians from each side. The next exchanges are scheduled to take place on May 24-25.
In Ukraine, those released return by bus to a hospital in the Chernihiv region of the country. Most of them looked pale, with their heads shaved and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.
Soldier Oleksandr Nehir shared: "I cannot express my feelings. I have been in prison for 22 months." He hugged his wife while he was happy and surprised that he was released. "It can't be overcome if you don't trust. You have to believe in me every day, he said.
Another soldier, Oleksandr tarasov, 38, from Mykolaiv, said he was arrested nearly two years ago at the Kherson front after Ukraine recaptured the area in 2022. I didnt believe it could happen until now, he said.
Russia confirmed that the released Russian have returned to Belarus - a neighbor to Ukraine - where they are receiving medical and psychological support. Among them were civilians arrested in Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Kursk region.
The video released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows many people laughing and crying out of joy. A woman said: "This is a gift, our happiness". Another video recorded soldiers wearing military uniforms holding the Russian flag and the Soviet flag high, shouting: Forever! and Everything will be fine! Glory to Russia!
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov called this the "first stage" and stressed that Kiev still hopes to reach a ceasefire agreement. We hope the US will help Ukraine achieve that, he said.
US President Donald Trump, who called for negotiations between the two sides, wrote on Truth Social: Congratulations to both sides for reaching this agreement. Is this the beginning of something bigger?".
Russia has said it will only suspend the attacks if its conditions are met. A member of the Ukrainian delegation called the conditions un acceptable. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that after the Prisoner exchange is completed, Moscow will hand over to Kiev a draft document on a long-term peace agreement.
