Overview

• President Zelensky declared “Our people are home” as freed Ukrainians began arriving from Russian detention
• Among them were Ukrainian soldiers who defended Mariupol and spent nearly the entire war in captivity
• Russia’s defense ministry said released servicemen were taken to Belarus for medical and psychological support
• Negotiators from Turkey and the UAE secured the deal during June 2 Istanbul talks, which also covers repatriation of thousands of war casualties
• Both Kyiv and Moscow report they have swapped matching numbers of POWs so far despite earlier disputes over transferring soldiers’ remains