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Russia, Ukraine complete major POW exchange under Istanbul agreement
(MENAFN) Russia and Ukraine exchanged thousands of military personnel and civilians in 2025 as part of the prisoners of war agreements reached in Istanbul, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin announced on Tuesday.
Galuzin reported that roughly 2,300 Russian soldiers and 170 civilians were repatriated from Ukraine this year, while Russia returned about 2,400 Ukrainian servicemen and an equal number of civilians to Kyiv. “As a result of the agreements reached in Istanbul, approximately 2,300 of our soldiers and about 170 civilians were able to return to their homeland in Russia. As for the Ukrainian side, about 2,400 military personnel and about 170 civilians were returned to them,” he said.
The deputy minister also highlighted the exchange of fallen soldiers’ remains, stating that around 12,000 bodies of Ukrainian troops had been returned to Kyiv, while Russia received approximately 200 bodies, with the process expected to continue.
Galuzin criticized Ukraine for continuing to detain 12 Russian citizens taken during its 2024 incursion in the Kursk region and expressed regret that Kyiv has suspended Istanbul talks without responding to several Russian proposals. These proposals included creating three working groups focused on military, political, and humanitarian issues to advance the Istanbul process.
Regarding the potential resumption of talks, Galuzin noted that Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya had publicly announced an interruption of the Istanbul process at least until the end of the year, though Russia had received no official notification. He also stated he was unaware of any informal communications with Ukrainian officials.
On the prospects for ending the conflict, Galuzin emphasized that he would not set a timeline, urging Ukraine to make a “responsible political decision on Donbas” aligned with prior understandings from Russian-American discussions, including the Anchorage summit. He stressed that Russia is prepared to follow through with a final ceasefire and settlement once Ukraine takes such steps.
Echoing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Galuzin added that Kyiv and European actors are currently the main obstacles to peace, claiming that their belief in defeating Russia comes at the expense of both Ukrainian and their own populations.
Galuzin reported that roughly 2,300 Russian soldiers and 170 civilians were repatriated from Ukraine this year, while Russia returned about 2,400 Ukrainian servicemen and an equal number of civilians to Kyiv. “As a result of the agreements reached in Istanbul, approximately 2,300 of our soldiers and about 170 civilians were able to return to their homeland in Russia. As for the Ukrainian side, about 2,400 military personnel and about 170 civilians were returned to them,” he said.
The deputy minister also highlighted the exchange of fallen soldiers’ remains, stating that around 12,000 bodies of Ukrainian troops had been returned to Kyiv, while Russia received approximately 200 bodies, with the process expected to continue.
Galuzin criticized Ukraine for continuing to detain 12 Russian citizens taken during its 2024 incursion in the Kursk region and expressed regret that Kyiv has suspended Istanbul talks without responding to several Russian proposals. These proposals included creating three working groups focused on military, political, and humanitarian issues to advance the Istanbul process.
Regarding the potential resumption of talks, Galuzin noted that Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya had publicly announced an interruption of the Istanbul process at least until the end of the year, though Russia had received no official notification. He also stated he was unaware of any informal communications with Ukrainian officials.
On the prospects for ending the conflict, Galuzin emphasized that he would not set a timeline, urging Ukraine to make a “responsible political decision on Donbas” aligned with prior understandings from Russian-American discussions, including the Anchorage summit. He stressed that Russia is prepared to follow through with a final ceasefire and settlement once Ukraine takes such steps.
Echoing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Galuzin added that Kyiv and European actors are currently the main obstacles to peace, claiming that their belief in defeating Russia comes at the expense of both Ukrainian and their own populations.
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