# 160 Ukrainian POWs released from Russian captivity in latest major exchange

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-26 20:28 UTC · Category: World · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 6.36

## Executive Summary
Russia and Ukraine have conducted a major prisoner exchange, returning 160 soldiers to each side.

## Intelligence Brief
Ukraine has returned 160 servicemen from Russian captivity. According to reports, some of these troops had spent four years in captivity.


Coverage from Reuters, Euronews, and The Kyiv Independent emphasizes that the swap was reciprocal, with 160 soldiers released from each side. Ukrinform notes that the SSU has released exclusive footage of the exchange.


President Zelensky has announced the return of over 9,500 captives in total, with 1,596 being freed in 2026.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### How many soldiers were released in the latest exchange?
160 Ukrainian soldiers were released, and Russia received 160 soldiers in return.

### How long had some of the released Ukrainian troops been held?
Some Ukrainian troops spent four years in Russian captivity.

### What are the total figures for freed captives mentioned by Zelensky?
Zelensky announced the return of over 9,500 captives, with 1,596 freed in 2026.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian, Zelensky, Russia Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine, SSU, Ukrainian POWs

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Moscow Times | Russia and Ukraine Release 160 POWs Each | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxNMHdabGtrZ2FlLWNFdFFuUENtUXg5Y2tJeDcxSDNaSkFPUmpXOGtZdlA5STRhNkctX1F3NHhRUkxkNHlpVFRyM3hnak9JOHZncmYxU3c5VnR6NTZOa0VWdGNVbEhsVHdvcHo1RTJudFZCYUladDFUSk9sQ093MEJOaUxyM2o0bHJFU0JKaTRsZHNUWlE?oc=5) |
| The Kyiv Independent | Ukraine war latest: Ukraine brings home 160 POWs in new exchange with Russia | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxPWVhTX3p5bVNaamk5aDd4b1ZLQ3BIOU02Z0JLbjZiRFc5S1Z5TGdsOWN0Z2gtR0lsUlhtak94NGFNdlFzUXhTS2hRWUZpZ0hmYU9wb0xaWm1fNW0xMy1RQ0hkSFVyRm5SZktidXRnUFE3dzRQZXRWdGp0d21sYWQ2Nzludl9pTkpxOWtseGJRVnlaUFkzUVpuR2tKRE1XNjlYYkxFRThxTQ?oc=5) |
| Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency | SSU releases exclusive footage of prisoner exchange | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxPNDJ6dkE2QjRJUUx0QlhnVXhYdVRXRzRuT2RXUXBXaURsNS1MM2FJOGRqYlpKN3NNeDI4V3gxMEdHaVlHMFBYdGNMUzAxcmZkZXBIQmxGb1pXaXNpQXpIR1Z1V0l5MS1EcHM4a2VxcjZCTGNtbEw4ZjVHOUJJUF9PeFJKX25hRm1SdnhZZzRLYmVzQWEwZmo5eEVMVlJSZENTUFo3SUx4NU8?oc=5) |
| Українська правда | New prisoner exchange brings home 160 Ukrainian troops who spent four years in Russian captivity | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZEFVX3lxTE96dF9fd21RUzNSY3d6akZDN2NoWmxOcmxRaWxIV0drd3o1ZkpRSnZNOVlvcG54a3hMa1ljNjZRY054OVNHdlctamE2bnVfU24zR3VVZG56S203ZXlNNGpzY1JzQ2PSAXBBVV95cUxNV1k5cktnaE1UYXNNeVBVMzNXZ0YtYnh4dE9lWUZlbmFiT3hzT1FrY2NfVnlJMGR2Qk4xS0Zabjd0MTBlbm5iUjAtUEpaRWNLTUlmeXA2cnlqLUN2ejhoWml5OXk2MUlzVl9zZFY2eUVh?oc=5) |
| mezha.net | Zelensky announced return of over 9,500 captives, 1,596 freed in 2026 | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicEFVX3lxTE5SMk0xSVFHOFFkOUY2N0lfa2owSHhqRWp2b05JMzM2MUJsSlIwLWdtNm9DLTlCa2M0RWVmRG5qeVZ6cUs2SlJPeWx5alVLMXlHWVF1YWhzYlBZY2FlSTYtVXlpVVFzM1NwMlItV0g3Q28?oc=5) |
| The Jerusalem Post | Russia-Ukraine exchange POWs | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiX0FVX3lxTE5fS2VGVUUyMXE1UjJlTG1WYk1EbFRJSUNLQVB3QTZ3enMtam5iSGpSNE9GNUZ3cnlBdkNsX3ROZEUxTl9ua190cmVaNnI2dFZvaGdvQlplOXBOWHhVSEx3?oc=5) |
| Euronews.com | Russia and Ukraine swap 160 soldiers each in latest prisoner exchange | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxNYjhrREgxTkR2TEdReTJkdHpqQlJwM3QwbDFpUjRfRTBkbE82WGhiRzRMQlhhY09PbERmMmx1SU5YWlJMNmkyaVhHYnpLSUZRMWxfWFJydlFJek81aFJHckdLTk9rdmo3M0xqdGlMM2RoLVNLdUpOeWRHMllLVVhvNFduU0lyXzVJQjFSbDNBZ19IU2loTkl3NEJMNTktY3JxTW1wSkZEOGxHY1A4c1d2WWNIMU16UQ?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Ukraine returns 160 servicemen from Russian captivity, Zelenskiy says | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxPWk1FLU1faVdMQ1JoYkxCTEw1QjQwem1fNXdNaGFiVWI4TURCd3h2WUxtcWFYRXJ2VTNUQndQNXRKT0tDY2RudlBZUGxvQi1lWm9tX2NDdjJmeFJPT0pFa2hoeXdoNTVzbFNDS0hIelZocXVwYmRDc3NYb3JMaU9BYTlCTTBJc3BKVGt1VDRYM3pGdkpGRnQyZkZsVlV5U1RqeExPa3BVUHlWaDJJVjZta19B?oc=5) |
| The Kyiv Independent | 160 Ukrainian POWs released from Russian captivity in latest major exchange | 2026-06-26 12:57 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxPV3lOQVF3NWFhLW5PcXlfc09yYnUzanMxSGZ2QmtwQjBzUjVSZFRVSTB4Y196ck5vTmoxRTdLM3hEejBCUjkzYlJEV21JZWN2bkZ3SUEyTnZITkdXVjF5YmNmU1hQS0JHd05FWnZKaW9UaUFMWi1Pel8wVG50YU9nbThwZ0JKUmJ0Tk1qb1I0bTFjT2k5QlBpR3JLUi1YUHZsZERVbmhteVp3VGZmNE5aZlpR?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-06-26/160-ukrainian-pows-released-from-russian-captivity-in-latest-major-exchange*
*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*