The Intelligence from The Economist Soldiers’ fortune: Ukraine’s prisoner swap
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May 27, 2025 
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent for The Economist, shares gripping insights on the emotional turmoil surrounding Ukraine’s recent prisoner swap. He discusses the chaotic exchanges and the poignant stories of families anxiously awaiting their loved ones, highlighting the joy and heartbreak intertwined in the process. The conversation extends to how these exchanges mirror the stagnation of peace talks and the growing backlash against American brands amid rising geopolitical tensions, shaping their fortunes in international markets.
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Emotional Scenes at Prisoner Exchange
- Families await eagerly at prisoner exchange sites with Ukrainian flags and photos for any news of their loved ones.
- The atmosphere mixes anguish and hope, with emotional reunions when captured soldiers return.
Wounded Soldiers Reunite With Families
- Ukrainian soldiers returned looking exhausted, with poor health and ragged clothing.
- Reunions bring relief but also reveal severe suffering, such as gangrene among prisoners.
A Mother's Endless Hope
- Lyudmila, a mother of a missing soldier, attends prisoner exchanges repeatedly, hoping for news.
- Despite seeing a video of her son's capture in 2023, she remains in tears and sorrow.