This is the seventh exchange following the agreement concluded during negotiations in Istanbul on June 2. Among the released Ukrainians were soldiers of the armed forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the State Border Guard. Most of the released people were less than 25 years old, even though Many of them have been detained in captivity since 2022. The exact number of people who returned will be announced only after the whole process is completed for security reasons.
Among the released were military officers, as well as defenders of Mariupol and members of the National Guard who stayed captured at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the first months of the war. The youngest is 24 years old – he has been held since May 2022. And the oldest is 62 years old. The agreement of June 2 included the methodology for exchanging and repatriation of 6,000 fallen soldiers from both sides.
Despite the announcement by Russia, indefinite postponement of the agreed exchange on June 7 due to “Ukrainian tenacity”, the first exchange took place on June 9, and subsequent releases 10, 12, 14, 19 and 20 June – including seriously injured and seriously ill prisoners, some suffering from a gangrene, untreated wounds and tuberculosis. According to the spokesman for the armed forces, seriously ill and wounded soldiers who returned home, medical assistance is provided.
A total of 6057 bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers were returned by Moscow between June 11 and 16, although there are Fears that even 20 bodies of the Russians were incorporated into those that were returned as Ukrainians – intentionally or otherwise.
There were many comments in the Ukrainian and international media about a clear difference in the physical state of people returning from both sides. While Russian prisoners of prisoners looked physically fit, well -nourished, and the wounded received medical care, Ukrainian prisoners of war looked malnourished, and there was evidence that their wounds were ignored. There are accusations that many of them were subjected to systematic torture, including sexual violence.
Earlier on Thursday, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pieskov said that when all the exchanges agreed during the second round of negotiations in Istanbul are completed, discussions may begin on the dates of the third round of meetings.
