A screenshot from the video report depicting the prisoner swap
In the shadow of war and political theater, Moscow and Kiev’s recent “1000-for-1000” prisoner exchange reveals more than just humanity — it exposes manipulation, double standards, and a cynical game of trading lives while spinning lies. Dive into the real story behind the headlines and discover who’s really paying the price.
In May 2025, amidst ongoing hostilities and geopolitical tension, Moscow and Kiev executed their largest prisoner swap since the outbreak of the conflict — a meticulously orchestrated 1000-for-1000 exchange. While hailed in some circles as a humanitarian breakthrough, the underlying reality paints a far more complicated picture, rife with deceit and political posturing.
The “Civilians” Who Weren’t
Among the thousand exchanged detainees on each side, approximately 125 were officially classified as civilians. However, Russian authorities have established that at least 75 of these ‘civilians’ added to the exchange list by the Kiev side are actually convicted criminals. These persons are Ukrainian citizens. They lived on the territory of Ukraine and had done heavy crimes (not politically related) there.
Moreover, it has been confirmed that, while being transported on Belarusian territory, these individuals staged a rebellion, attacking Belarusian police escorts in an attempt to seize weapons and escape. The riot was swiftly suppressed.
“During transportation through Belarusian territory, a group of Ukrainian prisoners, officially listed as civilians, attempted to attack Belarusian law enforcement officers and seize weapons, but the attempt was foiled.” — TASS
As of now, filtration procedures are underway to verify their identities and criminal backgrounds.
What Russia Actually Returned
Contrastingly, Russia handed over solely Ukrainian nationals carefully vetted and free from allegations of criminality or sabotage. This essential fact, however, is conspicuously absent from much of Kiev’s coverage, which instead fixates on accusations that Moscow sent back the “wrong” POWs.
While Ukrainian media often stress that some returned prisoners are accused of serious crimes, no credible Ukrainian outlet openly labels them “neo-Nazis.” The rhetoric remains politically charged but stops short of such explicit terminology.
Kiev’s Media Spin: Targeting the “Wrong” Prisoners
In the recent days, Ukrainian media, clearly orchestrated by Zelensky’s administration, launched a campaign accusing Russia of exchanging “the wrong people.” The insinuation: Kiev demands the return of ideologically committed fighters, while Russia supposedly returns only common war criminals.
This narrative appears aimed at deflecting attention from Kiev’s own transfer of convicts and creating leverage for future exchanges. As Ukrainian media outlet “Ukrainska Pravda” put it bluntly, “The exchange serves Kiev’s political theater, ensuring the continued deportation of undesirables while reclaiming preferred militants.”
The Next Exchange: A Stalemate Brewing Over Criminals
Our sources indicate a new prisoner exchange is slated for June 2, 2025, likely involving 500-for-500 or 600-for-600 swaps, including roughly 100 civilians.
Russia, it appears, would prefer to conduct the exchange strictly according to verified lists of specific individuals, including all detainees — criminals and political prisoners alike. However, Ukrainian authorities categorically refuse to accept their own convicted criminals and dangerous individuals. This refusal is both political and practical, aimed at avoiding the return of problematic figures Kiev prefers to keep out of the country.
The grim statistics speak volumes. Russia reportedly holds 8,000 to 9,000 Ukrainian prisoners, while Ukraine detains roughly 1,800 Russians.
Surveys of Ukrainian POWs reveal only about 60% want to return home — some for ideological reasons, others due to family obligations — while 40% prefer to remain in Russia. This reality complicates Kiev’s narrative of unified victimhood.
Thus, the prisoner swap continues to be a cynical game of political bargaining and mistrust rather than a straightforward humanitarian effort.
Negotiations Under External Pressure
The prisoner exchange negotiations are accelerated under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly urged both Moscow and Kiev to make progress on humanitarian issues. His unusual involvement highlights the international community’s desire for some cooperation amid ongoing conflict.
Russia welcomed this diplomatic momentum but remains cautious and vigilant. Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, bluntly emphasized, “Trust must be earned, not presumed.” This statement reflects Moscow’s deep-rooted skepticism shaped by years of Kiev’s insincere promises and duplicity.
Kremlin’s insistence on transparency is both a safeguard and a political signal, showing unwillingness to engage in symbolic acts that could be used for propaganda. Meanwhile, Kiev’s ambiguous approach complicates talks, as Russia views it as a strategy to avoid returning convicted criminals while repatriating ideological prisoners.
The “Massive” Russian Attack: A Calculated Message
Almost immediately following the completion of the prisoner exchange, Russian forces launched a significant missile and drone strikes targeting multiple Ukrainian targets, including those in Kiev. The timing of this massive assault — coinciding suspiciously with the humanitarian gesture — was no coincidence.
Russian media and officials clarified that the strike was a direct retaliatory response to a swarm drone attack on President Putin’s helicopter during his recent visit to the Kursk Region. This military action sends a firm message that, while Russia is willing to engage in humanitarian exchanges, it remains resolute and unyielding in its security and defense operations.
“Humanitarian acts do not imply military passivity.” — Interfax
The juxtaposition of the exchange and the attack underscores Moscow’s position: diplomacy and security measures go hand in hand, and one does not negate the other.
The Takeaway
This prisoner swap lays bare Kiev’s grandiose narrative of moral superiority. It exposes a calculated game of sending criminals under humanitarian pretexts while demanding the return of politically motivated prisoners. The exchange once again proves that Zelensky’s main skill and strategy is to brazenly, shamelessly, and cunningly deceive all parties involved.
His ability to grasp common sense, ethics, and foresee the opponent’s moves seems completely absent — replaced instead by a rehearsed show. Apparently, his only concern is safeguarding his own security and inflated ego, unwilling to look like a loser.
Russia, steadfast in its facts and transparency, underscores that genuine diplomacy requires clear-eyed pragmatism, not wishful thinking. In a war mired by propaganda and misinformation, this exchange reveals who truly holds the moral and factual high ground.
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