Ukraine confirms start of large-scale prisoner swap with Russia

Ukrainian President   Zelensky said Kyiv and Moscow have carried out the "first stage" of a major prisoner exchange agreed during talks in Istanbul. Both sides received 390 people during the first stage and are expected to exchange 1,000 prisoners each in total.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said on Friday 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians have returned from territory controlled by Kiev. In return, 270 Ukrainian prisoners and 120 civilians have also been released, it added. 

The freed Russian prisoners are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with necessary psychological and medical assistance, said the ministry. Following their direct negotiations in Istanbul last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest prisoner swap since the start of the conflict in 2022.