Russia and Ukraine on Thursday confirmed a second prisoner exchange under agreements reached during their recent peace talks in Istanbul, signaling continued diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing conflict now in its fourth year. The new swap follows the first exchange earlier this week and focuses primarily on the severely wounded and seriously ill.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of Ukrainian soldiers from the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service, thanking all those involved in facilitating the process. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets noted that some of the released were among the earliest captives, with ages ranging from 22 to 59.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange, saying its servicemen had been repatriated via Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological care before being transferred to Russia for rehabilitation. Moscow also stated its willingness to carry out such exchanges “on a daily basis” but accused Kyiv of delaying the process.
The Istanbul talks, held on May 16 and June 2, resulted in agreements to prioritize the exchange of the youngest and most seriously wounded prisoners, as well as to repatriate the remains of 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side. While neither side disclosed the number of prisoners exchanged on Thursday, the mutual confirmation underscores a rare area of cooperation in a deeply divided conflict.
