Russia and Ukraine complete exchange of 1,000 prisoners each

By Euronews with AP

Published on 25/05/2025 - 16:53 GMT+2

Russia and Ukraine connected Sunday completed nan speech of 1,000 prisoners each, pinch nan handover of nan past 303 prisoners.

The three-day swap, which started connected Friday, was nan largest since nan warfare began 3 years ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed nan completion of nan exchange, saying connected X connected Sunday that “303 Ukrainian defenders are home".

The switch was agreed connected successful Istanbul earlier this period during nan first face-to-face talks betwixt nan 2 sides since nan warfare began.

The captive exchange, which included civilians, has been nan only actual measurement towards bid to look from nan meeting.

Just hours earlier nan past handover, Russia deed Ukraine pinch a monolithic drone and rocket battle which Ukrainian officials described arsenic nan largest aerial onslaught of nan war.

Officials said astatine slightest 12 group were killed and dozens others injured successful what they described arsenic nan largest aerial battle since Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022.

There was nary contiguous remark from Moscow connected nan strikes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said meantime that its aerial defences changeable down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged his country’s Western partners to ramp up sanctions against Russia.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov connected Friday said Moscow would coming Ukraine pinch a draught bid statement erstwhile nan speech was completed.

Posting connected X connected Sunday, President Zelenskyy reiterated nan urgent request for a ceasefire and promised to bring each Ukrainian home.

The captive speech was nan latest of dozens of swaps since nan warfare began but besides nan biggest involving Ukrainian civilians.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers connected some sides, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, are believed to person been wounded aliases killed during nan war.