The news spread rapidly across the country. The only tangible result of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia on May 16 in Istanbul was the launch of a large-scale prisoner exchange, which brought a moment of hope amid a very dark period for Ukrainians. On Friday, May 23, both countries handed over 390 military personnel and civilians each.

"The first part of the agreement to exchange 1000 for 1000 has been implemented," announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that prisoners who had not yet been released would be exchanged on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25. "Bringing our people back is exactly what we always work for. We will definitely bring everyone back. Every one of our citizens, every Ukrainian servicemember and civilian, all Ukrainian hostages held in Russia – we must free all of them."

The liberated civilians and soldiers were awaited by hundreds of relatives of prisoners of war at a rendezvous point in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, which borders Belarus and Russia. Some had traveled in groups, like Inna and Lena (whose last names are not given, as is the case for all those with loved ones still detained), aged 48 and 50, whose adopted son, Ihor, and husband, Serhiy, had been taken prisoner in the first weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 while defending the city of Mariupol. With them was Liudmyla, 49, who had come from Odesa, also hoping to see her son Volodymyr, who would soon turn 30 and was captured in April 2022. None of them knew whether their loved ones would be freed in this exchange. "We all pray that they are among them," confided Liudmyla. "In any case, it's impossible to just stay at home."

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