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8h ago

Russia and Ukraine Conduct Another Prisoner Swap After Istanbul Talks

The swap reflects continued prisoner releases under an Istanbul agreement despite ongoing hostilities

A still image from a video released by the Russian Defence Ministry shows what it said to be Russian service personnel captured by Ukrainian forces and released during the latest exchange of prisoners of war in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, as they pose with Russian flags in front of a bus at an unknown location in Belarus, in this image taken from handout footage released June 20, 2025. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
A still image from a video released by the Russian Defence Ministry shows what it said to be Russian service personnel captured by Ukrainian forces and released during the latest exchange of prisoners of war in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, as they board a bus at an unknown location in Belarus, in this image taken from handout footage released June 20, 2025. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
Neither side said how many soldiers had been freed in Friday's swap
Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to result in a pause to the fighting

Overview

  • Friday's exchange was part of an Istanbul agreement to free more than 1,000 wounded, ill or under-25 prisoners from each side.
  • Russia's Defence Ministry said it returned captured servicemen from Ukrainian-controlled territory in the swap.
  • President Zelensky said most of the freed Ukrainians had been held for over two years in Russian captivity.
  • Neither side disclosed how many soldiers were released in the exchange.
  • These swaps remain one of the few diplomatic channels between Moscow and Kyiv since the 2022 invasion and highlight stalled ceasefire talks as Russia insists on territorial concessions and an end to Western military support.