Moscow: Russia and Ukraine exchanged 185 prisoners of war each as part of deals reached in Istanbul earlier this year, the Russian Defense Ministry said. A statement by the ministry announced the swap, adding that Moscow also received 20 Russian civilians who were held by Ukraine. The Russian servicemen and civilians are in neighboring Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance.
According to Kuwait News Agency, all returned Russian servicemen and civilians will be transported to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical facilities. Despite the announcement from Russia, Ukraine has yet to confirm the swap.
The exchange is a result of three rounds of renewed peace talks held by Russia and Ukraine in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul on May 16, June 2, and July 23. These talks have led to significant prisoner swaps and draft memoranda outlining respective positions for a potential future peace deal, as the conflict continues since February 2022.