Ukraine has captured more than 900 Russian soldiers in just six months during its surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
The move, hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, isn’t just about territorial gains—it’s about leverage.
How Ukraine Captured These Prisoners?
Kyiv has made it clear that these Russian POWs could be Ukraine’s ticket to bringing home its own captured troops.
“This operation has significantly replenished the exchange fund,” Ukraine’s military confirmed, crediting it with the return of hundreds of Ukrainian defenders held in Russian prisons.
Despite nearly three years of war, both sides still regularly swap prisoners. Just this week, 150 soldiers from each side were released in the latest exchange.
Biggest Foreign Military Operation Against Russia
Ukraine’s cross-border offensive—the largest foreign military operation on Russian soil since World War II—has been a huge embarrassment for the Kremlin.
Though Kyiv has since lost much of the territory it initially seized, the campaign has put Moscow on the defensive and injected uncertainty into Russian military planning.
