146 Freed on Each Side
A Prisoner Exchange On August 24, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 146 prisoners each. It was one of the largest swaps in months. The United Arab Emirates brokered the deal. It offered a rare break in a war that’s now in its fourth year.
Ukraine got back soldiers captured early in the war and a journalist taken in 2022. Families finally got closure after years of silence. Russia got back its troops and eight civilians caught in border skirmishes. Moscow says over 20 Russian civilians are still held in Ukraine.
The Russians were flown to Belarus for health checks and trauma care. The effects of captivity don’t fade quickly. It shows how brutal the conditions have been for both sides.
UAE as a Go-Between
The UAE has become a quiet middleman in this war. Since 2022, it’s stepped in to help with several swaps. Both sides trust it more than other countries. That says a lot about how few options remain.
For the UAE, this boosts its global profile. For Ukraine and Russia, it’s a rare line of communication. It’s not peace talks, but it’s something.
Ukraine thanked Abu Dhabi and said more deals are coming. Zelenskyy pointed to Ukraine’s growing “exchange fund”—captured Russian troops used as leverage. It’s part of the strategy now. Hold more prisoners, get more Ukrainians back.
Russia plays the same game. Each swap lets the Kremlin say it’s taking care of its people. And both sides use the swaps for PR. But behind the politics, they’re still people—hurt, locked up, and now finally going home.
No Trust, Just Trade
Even with the swap, the mistrust is thick. Russia accused Ukraine of dragging its feet and playing games with the release of civilians. Ukraine sees every returned soldier as a win and pushes for maximum gains in each deal.
Each side spins the swaps as a victory. Ukraine lifts morale. Russia shows its citizens it’s not leaving people behind. It’s war messaging.
But these are more than numbers. Some Ukrainian prisoners hadn’t seen their families in years. Some missed their kids growing up. Russian families got back loved ones pulled into a war that still has no clear goal or end.
Doctors say many returnees need months of medical and mental care. Some have untreated injuries. Others come back malnourished. Some barely speak. The trauma doesn’t end when they step off the plane.
Reintegration is messy. Returnees are greeted as heroes, but most are deeply changed. Some can’t talk about what happened. Others aren’t ready to be back. The welcome home isn’t always simple.
More Swaps Ahead, But No End in Sight
This swap fits a pattern—small, practical deals in the middle of a grinding war. These are one of the few things still working between the two sides.
Ukraine is capturing more Russian soldiers and holding them for future swaps. It’s part of the playbook now. Russia wants back its troops and civilians. Both sides seem ready to keep this going.
The UAE will likely stay involved. It’s one of the few actors both sides trust enough to get things done. Until diplomacy restarts—if it ever does—these exchanges may be all that’s left.
But let’s be honest. This swap is a small win in a long, ugly war. While 292 people are free, thousands more are missing, locked up, or stuck in exile. Families are still waiting. The violence continues.
For now, these deals offer a flicker of hope. But they’re also reminders of what’s still broken. A few come home. Most don’t. And the war grinds on.
