War in Ukraine: Moscow and Kyiv exchange prisoners

Russia and Ukraine have begun another prisoner exchange. It was agreed upon at the beginning of the month in Istanbul during direct negotiations between representatives of Kyiv and Moscow. The first group of Russian soldiers under the age of 25 has been released from Ukrainian captivity, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced. In return, a similar number of prisoners was handed over to Ukraine. The ministry did not provide an exact number. Kyiv confirmed the exchange. According to Moscow, the Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus and are receiving medical assistance there.

"Our people are home," wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Platform X. Among the returnees were young soldiers as well as seriously injured people. Zelensky, too, did not provide a specific number. He stated that the exchange process is fraught with difficulties. However, he expects the agreement negotiated in Istanbul to be fully implemented. Recently, there had been disputes between Moscow and Kyiv over the timing of the exchange.

The Ukrainian Coordination Staff for Prisoners of War Issues wrote on Telegram that among those released were defenders of the city of Mariupol who had been held captive for more than three years. This is only the first part of the large-scale exchange. For security reasons, the final number of those released will not be announced until the exchange is completed, the statement said.