A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has seen 205 prisoners of war released on each side, in one of the largest swaps since the start of the conflict.

Most of the returned servicemen had been held in captivity since 2022, including defenders who fought in some of the war’s most intense early battles, The Caspian Post reports via France24.

Among those freed were soldiers linked to the defense of Mariupol and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, two symbolic and heavily contested locations during the initial phase of the invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the exchange represents the first stage of a larger planned “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner swap previously discussed with U.S. mediation efforts.

The deal comes amid ongoing diplomatic claims from U.S. officials about a broader ceasefire-linked agreement, although both sides continue to accuse each other of violations as fighting and aerial strikes persist.

On the Russian side, officials said their returned servicemen were taken to Belarus for medical and psychological support following the exchange. Humanitarian coordination reportedly included involvement from the United Arab Emirates.

Prisoner exchanges remain one of the few consistent channels of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv since the war began in 2022, even as wider peace negotiations remain stalled.