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Ukraine and Russia are planning to conduct an exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on April 19, Sky News reported on April 18, citing an undisclosed source.
According to the source, the swap will reportedly involve 246 POWs from each side, as well as 46 injured soldiers. The swap will be mediated by the United Arab Emirates, Sky News reported.
Russia and Ukraine have held 62 prisoner swaps throughout the full-scale war. The most recent POW exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on March 19, with 175 Ukrainians brought back home.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war in 2022, Kyiv has returned 4,306 people from Russia's captivity, including both soldiers and civilians.
Ukraine does not reveal the exact figures on how many Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) are held in Russia. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Russia holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians.
Ukraine floated the idea of an all-for-all prisoner exchange already back in 2024, but Russia has not agreed to the proposal.
‘Territories are first and foremost people:’ Zaporizhzhia, Kherson residents anxiously watch Witkoff debate the land they live on
Zaporizhzhia — During what would usually be evening rush hour in Zaporizhzhia, cars move easily through main streets that were once choked with traffic. As the shadows grow longer, soldiers calmly remove camouflage netting from the air defense weapons they’ll man against Russia’s deadly attacks unti…
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
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10:43 PM
Ukraine, Russia to conduct prisoner swap before Easter, Sky News reports.
The swap will reportedly involve 246 POWs from each side, as well as 46 injured soldiers, an undisclosed source told Sky News.
10:05 PM
'You're fools' — US may 'take a pass' on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says.
"If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
8:25 PM
Kremlin spokesman claims 'progress' in peace talks but says energy ceasefire period has expired.
"There are already some developments, but, of course, there are still many complicated discussions ahead," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
7:12 AM
(Updated: April 18, 2025 7:28 pm)
Russian missile attack on Kharkiv on Good Friday kills 1, injures 112.
“According to preliminary information, the strikes on Kharkiv were carried out with ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions. That is why the affected areas are so extensive," Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote.
6:54 PM
Mariupol defender appointed commander of Azov Brigade amid military reform.
Following the start of Russia's full-scale war in 2022, Hrishenkov defended Mariupol, where he was injured. After 86 days of defending the encircled city under heavy Russian bombardment, he and about 2,500 other fighters left the Azovstal steel plant after Ukrainian commanders ordered the defending garrison to lay down their arms.
4 days of hunting Russian drones.
The Kyiv Independent contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent four days following an air defense unit guarding the skies over a region in eastern Ukraine, seeing how they live, work, and save civilians from the dozens of Russian drones flying toward Ukrainian cities each night.
5:38 PM
US proposes leaving occupied areas under Russian control, easing sanctions, Bloomberg reports.
One of the officials told Bloomberg that the U.S. plans, which require further discussion with Kyiv, would not be a final settlement and that European allies would not recognize the occupied territories as Russian.
3:48 PM
Vance 'optimistic' about efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war.
"I want to update the prime minister (Giorgia Meloni) on some of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine... even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said.
3:37 PM
Japan signs deal on $3 billion for Ukraine under G7 loan.
Japan's funds will be disbursed over 30 years and directed toward budgetary needs and to support reconstruction and development.
3:13 PM
New round of US, Ukraine minerals deal talks to begin April 24, official says.
"We are now working in parallel with our and American legal teams and are trying to remove many technical issues to narrow them down to the most sensitive ones that will require a political decision," Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka said.
2:57 PM
Zelensky signs new sanctions on Russian propagandists, military-linked entities.
The new sanctions target 39 individuals and 60 legal entities, some based in Russia and China. The measures include asset freezes, trade restrictions, bans on property acquisition, termination of licenses and permits, and transit prohibitions.
2:47 PM
Ukraine brings back bodies of over 900 fallen soldiers.
These included service members killed in the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv sectors of the front, as well as those in Russian morgues.
2:29 PM
Ukrainian airline resumes first regular flights since 2022, flying from Moldova to EU.
Ukrainian airline SkyUp Airlines has made its first regular flight since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, flying on the Chisinau-Paris route on April 18, the Ain outlet reported, citing the company's press service.
2:02 PM
Russia detains Belarusian citizen, alleges SBU-linked bombing plot.
In a video released by Russian state-run RIA Novosti, the detainee, whose identity was not disclosed, said he was born in 2000 and is a citizen of Belarus.
1:25 PM
US reportedly tells European allies it seeks Ukraine ceasefire within weeks.
U.S. officials said they expect tangible progress soon, while European participants pushed Washington to prepare a harsher response if Moscow fails to engage, Bloomberg reported.
11:47 PM
(Updated: April 18, 2025 12:45 pm)
Meloni, Trump meet in Washington, discuss Ukraine ceasefire, US tariffs.
"We have been defending the freedom of Ukraine together," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
10:03 AM
(Updated: April 18, 2025 12:33 pm)
11 killed, 124 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.
Moscow's forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, five Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 37 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported.
12:25 PM
Raiffeisen halts plans to sell Russian subsidiary, FT reports.
Raiffeisen Bank International has suspended efforts to sell its unit in Russia amid warming ties between Moscow and Washington, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 18, citing undisclosed sources.
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