The Chief of Military Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov and the Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Dmytro Usov talked about the cooperation with the aggressor for the release of Ukrainian defenders in the early months of aggression. Usov managed to conduct an exchange of bodies with the enemy in March 2022, convincing them to exchange people.
«Fighting took place almost under Kyiv, and we had to convince the enemy to exchange military personnel. However, even we were not confident in our partners,» – explained Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov.
Dmytro Usov used scientific research on Russian negotiators to understand the enemy's thinking and establish contacts even in the absence of trust between the parties. From the very beginning of the conflict, Ukraine and Russia have already exchanged over 10 thousand military personnel, bringing home about 1200 Ukrainian fighters.
Special Operation in Melitopol: Enemy Ammunition Depot Destroyed
On August 16, 2025, during a special operation of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense in Melitopol, a Russian ammunition depot was destroyed and the enemy's personnel was eliminated. The explosion occurred when a truck with enemy personnel was entering the industrial zone in the area of Korvatsky Passage, where their deployment point was located.
Summary:
Ukrainian military managed to establish contacts with the aggressor for the release of Ukrainian defenders, exchanging over 10 thousand military personnel since the beginning of the conflict. A successful special operation was also conducted in Melitopol, where a Russian ammunition depot was destroyed.