Russia, Ukraine announce fresh prisoner swap

Russia and Ukraine announced a fresh prisoner swap on Friday as part of agreements reached during direct peace talks in Istanbul last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published photographs of freed Ukrainian troops, wrapped in blue and yellow flags.

“Our people are home. Most of them had been held in Russian captivity since 2022,” he said on social media.

Neither side disclosed the number of prisoners exchanged.

Russia’s  TASS news agency, citing an anonymous source, reported it was an “equal exchange” and included two civilians from the Kursk region.

According to The Moscow Times, Zelensky confirmed that civilians were among the Ukrainians returned, along with soldiers, National Guard members and border guards.