‘We Did Our Part’: Ukraine Calls Out Russian ‘1000-for-1000’ POW Swap Delay

Ukraine has already prepared and handed over a list of names for the proposed “1000-for-1000” prisoner exchange with Russia, Andriy Yusov, deputy head of Kyiv’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs), told Kyiv Post.

The proposed exchange was the only substantial outcome of last week’s negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Istanbul.

Yusov’s statement directly refutes a claim made earlier on Thursday by Kremlin press secretary Dmitriy Peskov, who alleged that Russia had not yet received a list from Ukraine and was still “waiting for it.”

The Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram: “Ukraine has completed its part of the preparatory work for the 1000-for-1000 exchange – Russia should speed up.”

On Thursday, following a meeting on the proposed exchange, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had submitted its list of names to Ukraine, which Peskov confirmed.

Earlier, Zelensky had emphasized that Ukraine was carefully verifying every name on its list as part of the preparation for the exchange.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said the exchange could take place this week.

“As for the lists, you understand – the exchange will go ahead, let’s put it this way: we’ll take back everyone we can, and hand over accordingly,” Budanov said.

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Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the Istanbul negotiations focused on a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, and possibly arranging a meeting at the leadership level.

“We talked about a ‘1,000 for 1,000’ exchange and are also working on other modalities for this swap,” Umerov told reporters on May 16 after talks with Russian officials. “We know the date, but we will not announce it yet.”

He added that the exchange would be the first step, with further negotiations to follow.

On May 6, Ukraine and Russia conducted a major POW exchange, during which 205 Ukrainian service members were freed.

According to the Coordination Headquarters, more than 4,000 Ukrainian military personnel and civilians have been released from Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion.