Ukraine's Defense Minister announces new prisoner swap with Russia in 1,000-for-1,000 format
Photo: Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (Getty Images)
Ukraine is preparing for a large prisoner exchange with Russia in the 1,000 for 1,000 format. The exact date has already been set, says Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Ukrainian TV.
Umerov said that a prisoner exchange with Russia could take place soon.
"We know the date, but we will not announce it yet," the minister said.
Talks in Istanbul
The minister's statement came after a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul.
This meeting was the first direct contact between the countries at this level in the past three years.
Read more about the negotiation process in Istanbul in the RBC-Ukraine report.
Prisoner exchanges
A large prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on May 6. 205 Ukrainian servicemen were freed.
According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, more than 4,000 prisoners of war and civilians have been freed from Russian captivity since the beginning of the full-scale war.
A prisoner exchange also took place on the eve of Easter, on April 19, during which 277 defenders were freed from Russian captivity.
