IN BRIEF: Russia, Ukraine hold new POW exchange under '193 for 193' formula

TASS · 🇺🇦 public Ukraine · Apr 24, 2026 · 246 words

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What to know about Conflict Reporting/Diplomacy

The article reports on a prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange conducted by Russia, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. On April 24, Russia reportedly returned 193 servicemen from Ukrainian-controlled territory in exchange for 193 Ukrainian POWs. The text also provides details of previous POW swaps that occurred on April 11 and in March.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 1

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Russia has returned 193 servicemen from Ukraine’s captivity in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war (POWs), Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

Why it matters

TASS has gathered key facts about the new POW swap.

Common ground

Russian Defense Ministry’s statement - On April 24, Russia has returned 193 Russian servicemen from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime, the ministry reported.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Conflict Reporting/Diplomacy story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Russia has returned 193 servicemen from Ukraine’s captivity in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war (POWs), Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/defense/2122177

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 60% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

schedule Pending 1

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Claim 1: “Russia has returned 193 servicemen from Ukraine’s captivity in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war (POWs), Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report the exchange of 193 servicemen for 193 Ukrainian POWs, citing the Russian Defense Ministry's report from Friday. This consistency across multiple search snippets indicates corroboration.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — According to the United Nations, Ukraine has a population of 37.9 million as of 2024. In July 2023, Reuters reported that due to refugee outflows, the population of Ukrainian-controlled areas may have…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Ukraine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Areas of southern and eastern Ukraine are occupied and controlled by Russia as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War and the ongoing invasion. In Ukrainian law, they are defined as the "temporarily occu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian-occupied_territories_o…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war covers the period from 1 January 2026 to the present day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Russo-Ukrainia…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “All the Russian servicemen will be brought to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at medical institutions of the Russian Defense Ministry.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that all released servicemen will be taken to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at the Russian Defense Ministry's medical institutions.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of all reigning monarchs in the history of Russia. The list begins with the semi-legendary prince Rurik of Novgorod, sometime in the mid-9th century, and ends with Nicholas II, who abdi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Russian_monarchs

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russian irredentism (Russian: русский ирредентизм) are territorial claims made by the Russian Federation to regions that were historically part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, which Russia…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_irredentism

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russian war crimes are violations of international criminal law including war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide which the official armed and paramilitary forces of Russia have …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_war_crimes

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 3: “On March 6, Russia returned 300 Russian servicemen from the Kiev-controlled territory in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian POWs.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “Before that, Russia and Ukraine held a POW swap in March.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The general claim that Russia and Ukraine held a POW swap in March is mentioned in the context of other swaps (Claim 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) and is corroborated by the existence of other specific swaps (Claim 5, 6), but no independent source specifically confirms a general swap *in March* without further context or date.

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web search NEUTRAL — Community driven reporting on the ongoing war in Ukraine - Videos, photos, discussions, this subreddit aims to cover both sides of the narrative and allows intelligent discussions.
https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineRussiaReport/new

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web search NEUTRAL — Russia didn't act against them while they had pro-Russian governments, it only acted when Ukraine became closer to the West, and that speaks a lot of what are Russia's intentions. So, they are the agg…
https://www.reddit.com/r/asklatinamerica/comments/1bulgrv/wh…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 24, 2022 · r/UkraineWarVideoReport: Community Driven Videos/Photos/Updates Ukrainian marines will learn how to operate boats in Norway. Already this spring, Norwegian servicemen will begin trainin…
https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/new/?page=1

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Claim 5: “On April 11, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 175 POWs each.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that on April 11, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 175 POWs each.

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web search NEUTRAL — KYIV, April 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia exchanged 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday in their latest swap, officials from both countries said, as they prepare to start a ceasefire to mark ...
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-russia-swap-175-servic…

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web search NEUTRAL — Russia and Ukraine exchanged 175 prisoners of war and seven civilians each on Saturday, in a rare moment of cooperation facilitated by the UAE.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260411-russia-ukraine-s…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ukraine has brought back home 175 soldiers and seven civilians held in Russian captivity in its latest exchange with Moscow, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 11. Russia's Defense Minist…
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-brings-home/

info

Claim 6: “During the prisoner swap, seven Russian citizens - residents of the Kursk Region illegally held in captivity by the Kiev regime returned home, the Defense Ministry reported.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the web search results mention POW swaps and specific numbers, the detail about 'seven Russian citizens - residents of the Kursk Region illegally held in captivity by the Kiev regime' returning on April 11 is only explicitly detailed in one search result snippet, making corroboration difficult across the provided set.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On 6 August 2024, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast, occupying parts of the region. It was the first time since World War II …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_occupation_of_Kursk_…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On 11 April, 175 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. As a result of the exchange, 175 AFU POWs were returned.
https://www.brighteon.com/6b8cd63b-307d-485b-809a-63e429d4e6…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ukraine and Russia released hundreds of prisoners of war on Friday, with officials in Kyiv saying that the exchange was a “continuation” of a swap held earlier this month. Russia’s Defense Ministry to…
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/24/russia-and-ukraine…

help

Claim 7: “On March 5, Russia returned 200 Russian servicemen from the Kiev-controlled territory in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian POWs.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the provided sources (web search, cross-references, Wikipedia) to confirm the specific exchange of 200 servicemen for 200 POWs on March 5.

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Claim 8: “On April 24, Russia has returned 193 Russian servicemen from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime, the ministry reported.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results corroborate that on April 24, 193 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime, citing the Ministry of Defense.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia has an estimated population of 146.0 million as of 1 January 2025, down from 147.2 million recorded in the 2021 census. It is the most populous country in Europe, and the ninth-most populous co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Russia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, spanning eleven time zones and sharing land borders with fourteen countries. W…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “The Russian servicemen are currently staying on the territory of the Republic of Belarus where they are receiving necessary psychological and medical assistance.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results state that the servicemen are currently in Belarus receiving psychological and medical assistance, and that they will subsequently be taken to Russia for rehabilitation.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR), also known as the Byelorussian SSR, Byelorussia, or simply Belarus, was a communist state from 1920 to 1922 and then a republic of the Soviet Union (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byelorussian_Soviet_Socialist_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — According to the 2019 census, there are 706,992 ethnic Russians in Belarus (Russian: Русские в Белоруссии, romanized: Russkie v Belorussii; Belarusian: Рускія ў Беларусі, romanized: Ruskija w Biełarus…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians_in_Belarus

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “in exchange, Russia has transferred 193 Ukrainian POWs.”

CORROBORATED

The web search results supporting Claim 0 and Claim 1 both confirm the exchange involved 193 Ukrainian POWs being transferred in return, making this claim consistent with the evidence base.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States–Ukraine–Russia meetings in Geneva were the third round of trilateral talks between delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. The meetings took place in Geneva on …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States–Ukraine–Rus…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 29 July 2022, Russian Armed Forces shelled a building housing Ukrainian prisoners of war in a Russian-operated prison in Molodizhne near Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast as a false flag operation during th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olenivka_prison_massacre

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war covers the period from 1 January 2026 to the present day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Russo-Ukrainia…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 11: “Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky said that Russia was holding a POW swap with Ukraine on March 5-6 under the ‘500 for 500’ formula pursuant to the Geneva accords.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the provided sources (web search, cross-references, Wikipedia) to confirm the statement made by Vladimir Medinsky regarding a POW swap on March 5-6 under the '500 for 500' formula.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.