Russia and Ukraine Exchange 103 Prisoners Each via UAE

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 103 prisoners of war each on August 19, 2026, marking the first such swap since June. The exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, with additional assistance from the United States. The freed Ukrainian personnel include members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, Navy, and Territorial Defence Forces who served across seven frontline regions, including Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv.

Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of the 103 service members, noting that many suffer from serious injuries and illnesses. He thanked soldiers who contribute to the exchange fund to facilitate these returns. Meanwhile, the released Russian servicemen were transported to Belarus for medical and mental health evaluations before their scheduled return to Russia.

During the swap in Belarus, human rights chiefs Yana Lantratova of Russia and Dmytro Lubinets of Ukraine met to exchange missing persons lists and discuss humanitarian care packages. The Government of Bahrain welcomed the move as a constructive humanitarian step. While prisoner exchanges remain a rare area of cooperation, peace talks remain frozen as the United Nations reports that civilian death tolls in 2026 have reached their highest levels since the war began.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Oleh Ivashchenko, announced that another exchange is expected before the end of the month, specifically targeting the return of defenders from the siege of Mariupol.