(MENAFN) Russia disclosed on Wednesday that it had conducted a new prisoner exchange with Ukraine, based on agreements previously arranged in Istanbul.

This marks another step in the ongoing negotiations between the two nations amid their continued conflict.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, "a group of Russian servicemen" was released from Ukrainian custody. However, the ministry did not clarify the precise number of troops involved.

It stated, "On July 23, in accordance with Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on June 2 in Istanbul, a group of Russian servicemen was returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners was transferred."

The ministry further mentioned that the released Russian personnel were now located in neighboring Belarus, where they are currently receiving essential psychological and medical support.

"All Russian servicemen will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at medical facilities of the Russian Defense Ministry," the statement added.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed back to the authorities in Kyiv as part of the same arrangement.

This mutual exchange reflects ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and support humanitarian processes during the conflict.

In a related development, during a press briefing held in Istanbul after the third session of peace negotiations between the two sides, Vladimir Medinsky, who leads the Russian negotiating team, revealed that roughly 250 individuals were exchanged from each side.

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