Women walk towards their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap with Russia on October 17, 2022 in Ukraine.
Ukrainian women walk towards their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap with Russia on October 17, 2022 in Ukraine.Ukrainian Presidential Office/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • One of the largest swaps in the war thus far took place on Monday.

  • The exchange was the largest of its kind between the two countries.

  • The prisoner exchange was confirmed by the ministry of defense.

On Monday, Russia and Ukraine swapped more than 100 prisoners, including women held in Russia and women held in Ukraine.

Of the108 Ukrainian women released, 37 were evacuees from the Avostal steel plant in Mariupol, 11 were officers, and 85 were privates and non-commissioned officers.

—Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) October 17, 2022

According to a post on his Telegram channel, Monday's swap was the first all-female swap since the war began.

It was nerve-racking. There are a lot of details that could affect the process.

Zelenskyy mentioned the exchange in his national address. More than 100 Ukrainian women, including officers, sergeants, privates, army, navy, territorial defense, national guards, border guards, were returned.

Women pose for a photo after re-uniting with their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap with Russia on October 17, 2022 in Ukraine.
Ukrainian women pose for a photo after re-uniting with their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap with Russia on October 17, 2022 in Ukraine.Ukrainian Presidential Office/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Defense Ministry said that 72 of the freed Russians were civilian sailors who had been held in Ukraine. It did not specify the genders of the Russian captives, though it referred to the sailors as "seamen." The Telegram message said it was an all-female prisoner swap, but it appeared to be different.

Some of the prisoners released by the Russian government were members of the pro-Russian military units.

Two Ukrainian women who were marked for the swap did not return to their home country before the exchange. Ukrainian officials didn't acknowledge or confirm that allegation. Insider did not get a response from representatives at the presidential office.

Several photos of the Ukrainian captives were released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office.

All the ladies will go through a medical examination. They will embrace their family. He thanked the staff who coordinated the prisoner exchange.

Ukrainian women reunite with relatives during all-female prisoner swap deal with Russia since the war began in Ukraine on October 17, 2022.Ukrainian Presidential Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Since the beginning of the war, Russia and Ukraine have traded prisoners. The Avostal steel plant was defended by 95 soldiers who were released in June.

More than 200 Ukrainians were returned to their country by Russia. 55 Russian prisoners of war were released by the Ukrainians.

Business Insider has an article on it.