A large-scale prisoner exchange is being prepared: Budanov announces the possible release of 1,000 Ukrainians and 1,000 Russians as early as the beginning of next week
On the eve of this announcement, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, made a sensational statement regarding the upcoming prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. According to him, the next week could be marked by a massive release — as many as 1,000 Ukrainian citizens and an equal number of Russians could return to territory controlled by Kyiv. In a comment for the TSN channel, Kyrylo Budanov emphasized that the process is in its final stages and that all details are expected to become public soon. "I hope this will happen next week. Based on the lists and the information we have — there will be an exchange, so to speak, of those we can, those who are on the lists — and those we are ready to release. We are working on this every day, and all necessary steps from our side have already been taken," he noted. Of course, in the context of such a large-scale event, it is important to emphasize that all details and specific names have not been disclosed, as the process is taking place as part of closed negotiations and with the security of each participant in mind. At the same time, confirmation from official sources seems like a very important signal for Ukrainian society and allies. What preceded this promise? According to diplomatic sources, negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul the day before, during which the issue of a large-scale exchange was discussed. Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, confirmed this information, stating that the possibility of a "thousand for a thousand" format was discussed during the talks. "We have made progress in this matter, and we expect positive results soon. Since this issue has been handled at the highest level, the process is gradually gaining momentum, and we hope that Ukrainian men and women will return home soon," officials are quoted as saying. The significance of such a large exchange cannot be overstated: for the Ukrainian people, it is not only a matter of humanitarian justice and the return of all prisoners to their homeland, but also an important factor in diplomatic progress in complex negotiations with Moscow. It is expected that, if all processes proceed logically, this will be one of the largest exchanges in the modern history of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Responsibility and persistence from the Ukrainian side, involvement of international mediators, and trust in the process are key factors giving grounds for hope for a swift resolution to this humanitarian issue. We await official confirmation and details in the near future, as each released person is an individual, and each return is a step toward peace and stability in Ukraine.