Russia and Ukraine complete largest ever POW swap
Russia and Ukraine have completed a record prisoner exchange, agreed to during direct talks in Türkiye earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced. On Sunday, 303 Russian soldiers were returned from territory controlled by Kiev, according to the ministry. In exchange, 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.
“All Russian military personnel and civilians will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Thus, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on May 16 in Istanbul, for the period from May 23 to May 25, the Russian and Ukrainian sides exchanged 1,000 per 1,000 people,” it added.
The Russian servicemen are now in Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological assistance.
Last week, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul. While no major breakthrough was made, both delegations agreed to stay in contact and exchange preliminary terms for a potential ceasefire.
The sides also agreed to a record 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner swap. The exchange started on Friday, with 120 Russian civilians and 270 military personnel, and an equal number of Ukrainian civilians and troops released. Another 307 people from both sides were exchanged on Saturday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated earlier that the sides will exchange draft ceasefire proposals once the swap process is complete.
