Russia, Ukraine show progress with biggest-ever POW exchange

(MENAFN) Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday that another 307 Russian soldiers have been released from Ukrainian captivity as part of the largest prisoner exchange to date between Moscow and Kiev. The exchange follows an agreement reached during direct talks held in Türkiye earlier this month.

The freed Russian troops were initially taken to Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical support. They later traveled to the Moscow Region for continued treatment and rehabilitation at military medical facilities.

According to the Defense Ministry, the swap was carried out in accordance with the agreement made on May 16 in Istanbul. Ukraine also received 307 of its own servicemen in return.

This latest exchange follows the initial phase of the deal on Friday, when 120 Russian civilians and 270 soldiers were returned, with Ukraine receiving an equal number of its own people. The ongoing swap is the result of the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in three years.

Russian officials noted that the large-scale exchange—proposed by Moscow—is still underway and will continue in the coming days.

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