Throughout 2025, prisoner exchanges remained one of the key humanitarian mechanisms between Ukraine and Russia. Over the year, more than two dozen rounds took place, bringing home over two thousand Ukrainian service members and civilians — among them defenders of Mariupol and soldiers who had spent more than two years in captivity. One of the largest exchanges was carried out under a масштабe formula, with the sides handing over hundreds of prisoners to each other over several days.
In early 2026, the process continued with new rounds of returns. With each stage, the total number of those released increased, and hundreds of families were finally able to embrace and see their loved ones again after a long separation.
These photos were taken in 2025 and 2026 for