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Video. Watch: Ukraine and Russia swap 205 prisoners each in major exchange deal

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · · 160 words · By Alexis Caraco
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What to know about Video. Watch: Ukraine and Russia swap 205 prisoners each in major exchange deal

The released prisoners included privates, sergeants and officers captured during battles in Mariupol, Donetsk, Kharkiv and other frontline regions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Claims checked 5
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left33%
Center34%
Right33%

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

What happened

The released prisoners included privates, sergeants and officers captured during battles in Mariupol, Donetsk, Kharkiv and other frontline regions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Why it matters

Video released by the Ukrainian presidential office showed returning soldiers crying, embracing fellow servicemen and calling relatives shortly after crossing back into Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Common ground

Kyiv said the exchange also included defenders who served near the Chernobyl nuclear plant and around the capital.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/05/15/watch-ukraine-and-russia-swap-205-pris…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 5 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3
verified Verified 1
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “The released prisoners included privates, sergeants and officers captured during battles in Mariupol, Donetsk, Kharkiv and other frontline regions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm prisoner exchanges involving soldiers from Mariupol (specifically Azovstal) and the general context of fighting in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions since 2022.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Battle of Donbas was a military offensive that was part of the wider eastern front of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The offensive began on 18 April 2022 between the armed forces of Russia and Ukraine f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Donbas_(2022)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ukraine's easternmost regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv, have been the site of an ongoing theatre of operation since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in February 2022. The battle of Donbas w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_front_of_the_Russo-Ukr…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mariupol is a city in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It is situated on the northern coast (Pryazovia) of the Sea of Azov, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. In January 2022, prior to the Russian invasion of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariupol
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 2: “Russian soldiers freed by Ukraine were transferred to Belarus for medical and psychological support before their return to Russia.”
VERIFIED
A specific web search result confirms the Russian ministry's statement that the freed servicemen are in Belarus receiving psychological and medical assistance before returning to Russia.
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web search NEUTRAL — Russia & Ukraine Swap 205 PoWs Each in Latest Exchange. Sputnik International. 205 Russian servicemen have been returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime, in exchange for 205 Ukrainian pri…
https://sputnikglobe.com/20260515/russia--ukraine-swap-205-p…
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web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — The ministry said the Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus and are receiving psychological and medical assistance, adding that they will be taken to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitat…
https://www.rt.com/russia/640017-russia-ukraine-prisoner-exc…
info
Claim 3: “Kyiv said the exchange also included defenders who served near the Chernobyl nuclear plant and around the capital.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general definitions of 'prisoner' and a TV show listing, providing no factual information regarding soldiers from Chernobyl or Kyiv in this exchange.
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web search NEUTRAL — A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner
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web search NEUTRAL — Prisoner: With Izuka Hoyle, Tahar Rahim, Finn Bennett, Jessica Barker-Wren. Follows a young prison officer transporting a high-value prisoner to testify against his crime syndicate, with their relatio…
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34273502/
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web search NEUTRAL — May 8, 2026 · The meaning of PRISONER is a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody; especially : one on trial or in prison. How to use prisoner in a se…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prisoner
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Claim 4: “The United Arab Emirates helped mediate the deal, continuing its diplomatic role in previous humanitarian exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources (EuroNews and Al Jazeera) confirm that the United Arab Emirates mediated the prisoner exchange and that both sides thanked the UAE for its role.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The warring sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war each in a mediation facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, officials from both nations said.
https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/11/ukraine-and-russia-excha…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The warring sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war each in a mediation carried out by the United Arab Emirates. The exchange also came just after both nations fired waves of drones at each other overnig…
https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/11/ukraine-and-russia-excha…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Both Kyiv and Moscow thanked the United Arab Emirates for mediating the swap.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/15/finland-ends-drone-…
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Claim 5: “Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that both sides released 205 prisoners each during Thursday’s exchange operation.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web sources (Türkiye Today, Sputnik/International, and another news report) explicitly confirm the Russian Defence Ministry's report of a 205-for-205 prisoner exchange.
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web search NEUTRAL — Russia has returned 205 Russian servicemen from territory controlled by the Kiev regime, and 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
https://tass.com/defense/2131265
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web search NEUTRAL — Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war each on Friday, Moscow and Kyiv said, a week after US President Donald Trump announced a large swap would take place between the warring sides.
https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/russia-ukraine-swap-205-pris…
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web search NEUTRAL — Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war (POW) each on Friday, Russian officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-2…
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.