Ukraine and Russia are carrying out the greatest exchange of prisoners since the 2022 invasion
Ukraine and Russia announced on Friday, May 23, the repatriation of the first 390 prisoners on each side, in a major exchange recently agreed to Istanbul.
Ukraine announces the return of the first 390 prisoners released from Russian captivity: X
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski confirmed on Friday that 390 Ukrainian citizens were released from Russian captivity. This is the first step in an exchange of prisoners of type 1000 for 1000, agreed with Russia a week ago.
“It is very important to bring home all who are in captivity at home. We check every family name, information about each person“Zelenski said on his Telegram channel. He said that the process will continue in the following days:”We will continue our diplomatic activity to make such steps possible ”.
The Ukrainian authorities said that among the issued persons include Marini, soldiers from the aepurted forces, members of the territorial defense, of the National Guard and the Border Police.
For his part, the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that 270 Russian soldiers and 120 civilians were released. Among them are “Residents of the Kursk region captured by the Ukrainian armed forces ” during the offensive of the summer of 2024.
One of the few cooperation channels
The exchange of prisoners, together with the return of the bodies of the soldiers fallen in battle, remains one of the last areas in which Kiev and Moscow cooperates. This happens in the context in which Russia continues to occupy about 20% of the Ukrainian territory.
US President Donald Trump has previously welcomed this major exchange between the two countries.
The situation of prisoners of war
After more than three years of war, thousands of prisoners of war are still in detention in both camps. The exact number is not known, but Artur Dobroserodov, the Ukrainian commissioner for missing persons, said in April that “We have confirmation that nearly 10,000 people are in captivity“In the hands of the Russians.
A high -ranking Ukrainian official quoted by Reuters under the protection of anonymity, stressed that Russia offers “Very little information” about the fate of Ukrainian prisoners and that “Each exchange reserves many surprises”.
At the same time, Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of violating the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.
