Zelenskyy announces new prisoner exchanges with Russia
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is preparing for new prisoner exchanges with Russia. Throughout the spring and summer, significant progress has been made in addressing this issue, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports.
"I received reports on the completed stages of prisoner exchanges and those currently being prepared. We expect several rounds of exchanges to be carried out in accordance with the agreements reached at the second meeting in Istanbul. We are also continuing other efforts to secure the release of our people - both military personnel and civilians," the President stated.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has managed to significantly intensify prisoner exchanges with Russia in recent months. Among those released are individuals previously listed as missing, as well as those who had been held in Russian prisons and camps before the full-scale war.
Prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia
Prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia remain one of the few humanitarian channels still functioning despite the active phase of the war. This year, exchanges have become even more frequent and large-scale.
During the first round of negotiations in Istanbul on May 16, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange in the 1,000-for-1,000 format. It took place in three stages from May 23 to 25.
During the exchange in early July, Ukraine managed to bring home soldiers who had been considered missing, as well as individuals sentenced to long terms in Russia.
