Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned Friday that it had carried out one other prisoner trade with Ukraine beneath agreements reached throughout direct peace talks in Istanbul final month.
“On July 4, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements in Istanbul on June 2, one other group of Russian navy personnel was repatriated from territory beneath the management of the Kyiv regime,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed the trade, saying “most” of the returned Ukrainian service members had been in Russian captivity since 2022.
“Exchanges ought to proceed, and I thank everybody who makes this doable. Ukraine’s purpose is to convey all our folks residence,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Neither facet disclosed the variety of prisoners exchanged.
Russia’s state-run TASS information company, citing an nameless supply, reported it was an “equal trade” and included two civilians from the Kursk area. Zelensky confirmed that civilians have been among the many Ukrainians returned, together with troopers, Nationwide Guard members and border guards.
Throughout the June 2 talks in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed to trade greater than 1,000 wounded or unwell service members, in addition to these beneath the age of 25. Earlier than Friday, each international locations had carried out not less than seven exchanges, with the earlier one happening on June 26.
Russia mentioned Friday that its troops have been transferred to Belarus, the place they’re receiving psychological and medical help.
The trade was introduced simply hours after Ukraine accused Russia of launching its largest air assault of the battle, whereas Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory killed one aged lady and left tens of 1000’s with out energy.
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