POW

Prisoners of war (POWs) in the Russia-Ukraine conflict are governed by the Third Geneva Convention, which requires humane treatment, access by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and repatriation after active hostilities. Both Russia and Ukraine have conducted prisoner exchanges throughout the war, with Qatar emerging as the principal third-party intermediary facilitating negotiation and logistics — a role formalised in the 10-year security agreement Zelenskyy signed with Qatar in March 2026 as part of his Gulf tour.

Since 2022, several hundred exchange Rounds have taken place, with totals reaching into the thousands on each side. The exchanges are typically announced jointly or separately by both governments, though the verification of numbers is complicated by each side's underreporting of captures and casualties. Ukraine has prioritised exchanges of civilian detainees and women; Russia has focused on returning wounded soldiers. Both sides have used exchange negotiations as a diplomatic signalling instrument during Ceasefire discussions.

The POW dimension intersects with the war's humanitarian record in contested ways. Allegations of torture, deprivation, and summary execution of prisoners have been made against both sides, with Ukrainian and international investigators documenting specific incidents of Russian violations in occupied territories. Russia denies systematic violations. The ICRC has complained of restricted access on both sides. Exchanges remain one of the few areas of direct bilateral engagement continuing in parallel with active combat.