Collected photo

KYIV, Ukraine, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine and Russia have conducted 
their first prisoner exchange in months, each releasing at least 157 people, 
both countries said Thursday, amid US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at 
ending the war.

The two sides have in the past conducted several rounds of prisoner swaps, 
one of the rare areas of direct cooperation between Ukraine and Russia amid 
the four-year war, but last month Kyiv accused Moscow of halting the 
exchanges.

On Thursday, amid three-way talks in Abu Dhabi, the countries swapped 157 
captured soldiers and civilians each in an exchange mediated by Washington -- 
the first since October.

"Today's exchange came after a long pause, and it is critical that we were 
able to make it happen. I thank everyone who works to make these exchanges 
possible," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

Images he posted showed the released prisoners, their heads freshly shaven, 
wrapped in Ukrainian flags and smiling amid falling snow.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said among the 157 Ukrainians released 
"are seven civilians and those whom the Russians unlawfully convicted."

Zelensky's aide Kyrylo Budanov said that in the group of the freed prisoners 
were 19 Ukrainians "who were illegally sentenced, 15 of them to life 
imprisonment."

Russia, who said the United States and United Arab Emirates acted as 
mediators for the exchange, announced earlier it had handed over 157 
Ukrainian soldiers and that 157 Russian servicemen were returned.

"In addition, three Russian citizens, residents of the Kursk region... will 
be returned home," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia's western Kursk 
region in 2024.