Prisoner Swap Complete
Ukraine and Russia completed a prisoner exchange of 175 service members each, alongside seven civilians, on Saturday. The exchange, facilitated by the UAE, occurred as an Orthodox Easter ceasefire was set to begin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of 175 service members and seven civilians, most of whom had been held since 2022. Russia's Defense Ministry also confirmed the return of 175 soldiers.
Ceasefire Doubts
Despite the prisoner swap, the ceasefire's viability is uncertain. Russian drone strikes hit Odesa overnight, killing at least two people and wounding two others, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 160 drones overnight, with 133 being intercepted. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 99 Ukrainian drones across Russia and occupied Crimea.
Terms of the Truce
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire, beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday and lasting until the end of Sunday. Zelenskyy promised to abide by the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives. He also warned of a swift military response to any violations. "Easter should be a time of silence and safety," Zelenskyy wrote, adding that a ceasefire "could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace."
Previous Attempts Failed
Previous ceasefire attempts have been unsuccessful, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Putin's move as a "humanitarian" gesture, but stated that Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands.
Civilian Impact
At the exchange site in northern Ukraine, Svitlana Pohosyan awaited her son's return. "My celebration will come when my son returns," she said. "I will hold him in my arms — and that will be the greatest celebration for me. And for every mother, every family." Seven residents of Russia's Kursk region returned from Ukraine after being captured by the Ukrainian army, according to Russian state media. Russia's human rights ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova, stated that the returnees were the last of those taken to Ukraine from the Kursk region after Ukrainian forces took control of parts of the region in 2024.
Ongoing Conflict
Ukraine struck a fuel pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight, hours before the start of the ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has seen periodic prisoner exchanges, one of the few positive outcomes of U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
