Russia, Ukraine confirm new prisoner swap after talks in Istanbul

Published connected 27/06/2025 - 2:17 GMT+2•Updated 5:00

Prisoners of warfare (POWs) were welcomed backmost successful Ukraine arsenic portion of a switch woody pinch Russia and were greeted by waiting relatives.

The release, carried retired nether nan Istanbul agreements, included wounded troops and soldiers pinch wellness issues, arsenic good arsenic respective defenders nether nan property of 25.

Many of nan freed servicemembers had spent much than 3 years successful Russian captivity, pinch a important number taken prisoners during nan 2022 defence of Mariupol.

Hundreds of families of POWs and missing Ukrainian servicemen gathered adjacent nan infirmary hoping to find their loved ones aliases accusation astir them among others.

This speech brought happiness to 53-year-old Svitlana Nosal whose hubby Viktor was captured successful Mariupol 38 months ago.

"It is simply a existent happiness to hug a loved one," said Svitlana Nosal.

Among nan crowd, 11-year-old Hordii Zavatskyi holds nan image of his begetter Mykola who was missing 18 period agone successful nan Bakhmut direction.

His biggest dream is to spot his father. The boy attends each protestation and speech pinch his mother Tetiana.

"I'm present because I want my dada back, truthful I tin spot him, hug him," said Hordii Zavatskyi.

Amid nan hostilities, nan 2 sides person continued swaps of prisoners of warfare agreed connected during caller talks betwixt their delegations successful Istanbul. Russia’s defence ministry and Ukrainian authorities said different speech took spot connected Thursday.

Earlier successful nan day, Russia’s defence ministry confirmed Thursday that a group of prisoners of warfare had been released and arrived successful Belarus earlier being transported backmost to Russia.

It said successful a station connected Telegram that nan men were presently successful Belarus and receiving each basal aesculapian support without specifying their number.

A video posted by nan ministry showed cheering soldiers covered pinch Russian flags boarding a bus.