Largest prisoner swap and Ukraine-US reconstruction fund launch - Friday brief
Collage by RBC-Ukraine
Ukraine and Russia carried out the first stage of a prisoner exchange in the "1,000-for-1,000" format. Meanwhile, Ukraine and the United States launched a joint fund for the country's reconstruction.
Read more about what happened on Friday, May 23.
Ukraine and Russia carry out first stage of the "1,000-for-1,000" exchange
Ukraine and Russia carried out the first stage of a prisoner exchange in the "1,000-for-1,000" format. Overall, the process is expected to last three days.
"Today – 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue," stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War clarified that 270 military personnel and 120 civilians had returned home.
Additionally, the "Khochu k svoim" (I want to go to my own) project reported that as part of today’s exchange, Ukraine handed over 70 collaborators to Russia. In return, dozens of Ukrainian civilian hostages were released from Russian captivity.
More details about the first stage of the large-scale exchange can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
Ukraine and US launch joint fund for state reconstruction
Ukraine and the United States launched a joint fund for the reconstruction of the country. This opens a new chapter in cooperation between the two nations.
"Ukraine and the United States have completed all the necessary procedures to launch the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Fund," said Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko.
She explained that the final step for the launch was receiving a diplomatic note from the US, which she received today from the US Chargé d'Affaires in Ukraine.
Russia strikes port in Odesa with ballistic missiles
On the evening of May 23, the Russian army launched ballistic missile strikes on the port of Odesa.
As a result of the attack, two people were killed. Eight more were injured, four of them in critical condition. All of the victims were port workers.
Russian soldiers execute two Ukrainian POWs in the Pokrovsk direction
On the morning of May 22, Russian troops assaulted the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces near the village of Udachne near Pokrovsk, where four Ukrainian soldiers were carrying out their duties.
During the assault, the occupiers captured two Ukrainian defenders and later executed them unarmed in a wooded area using automatic weapons. The fate of the other two defenders remains unknown.
The circumstances of the incident and the identities of those involved in this war crime are currently being investigated.
Ukrainian Forces strike crucial military plant in Russian Lipetsk region
Ukrainian forces attacked the Energia plant in the city of Yelets, Lipetsk region, Russia. The plant manufactures components for Russian missiles, bombs, and special equipment.
A direct hit on the target area has been confirmed, with a series of explosions recorded. According to the General Staff of Ukraine, a fire broke out on the premises.
