Ukrainian intelligence head breaks silence on Istanbul-2 prisoner swap

Today, July 23, as part of implementing the Istanbul agreements with the Russian side, Ukraine has returned another group of severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war. These are soldiers who were held for a long time in harsh conditions and required urgent medical care.

“Every return is a great victory for the entire country,” the Office of the President stated in an official announcement.

Overall, following the last three rounds of negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine has already managed to bring back over 1,000 of its citizens. This is one of the largest humanitarian breakthroughs since the start of the full-scale war.

The soldiers returned from captivity will undergo comprehensive medical examinations, treatment, and a course of physical and psychological rehabilitation. The government emphasizes that the process of freeing prisoners of war continues, and the state is doing everything possible to bring every defender home.

At the same time, the returned soldiers will receive full medical care and rehabilitation.

The third round of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place on July 23 in Istanbul. One of the key decisions was an agreement on the gradual exchange of severely wounded, seriously ill, and young prisoners based on the all-for-all principle.

Prisoner exchanges

During the first round of negotiations in Istanbul, held in May this year, Ukraine and Russia agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange on a 1000 for 1000 basis.

This agreement was carried out in three stages from May 23 to 25. It became one of the largest exchanges since the start of the full-scale war.

Already on June 2, during the second round of talks in Türkiye, the parties reached a new agreement - to exchange all severely wounded, seriously ill, and prisoners of war aged 18 to 25.

Under these agreements, eight exchanges have been conducted since early June - on June 9, 10, 12, 14, 19, 20, and 26, as well as on July 4.