Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the exchange of prisoners of war with Russia has begun, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA. The process of releasing the servicemen includes several stages and will continue in the coming days. Seriously wounded soldiers, as well as servicemen under the age of 25, will return to Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine agreed during the second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2 to exchange at least 1,200 prisoners of war and return the bodies of a total of 12,000 killed servicemen.
"Our people are home. Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. "The exchange began today, and will continue in several stages over the coming days," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He added that the process was "quite complicated, there are many sensitive details" and that negotiations were continuing "almost every day."
"We expect that the agreements on humanitarian issues reached during the Istanbul meeting will be fully implemented. We are doing everything possible to return everyone. We are working towards this goal at all levels," Zelensky stressed.
Earlier today, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Ukraine had released the first group of servicemen from the Russian Armed Forces aged up to 25.