Watan-On Monday, Russia announced the completion of the first phase in a new prisoner exchange with Ukraine, following agreements reached last week during the second round of peace talks held in Istanbul.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the first group of Russian soldiers under the age of 25 was transferred from Ukrainian-controlled territory to Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. The ministry did not disclose the exact number of soldiers but confirmed that an equal number of Ukrainian soldiers were returned as part of the deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed the start of the exchange process, stating that Kyiv had received a group of prisoners from Moscow and that further exchanges would continue in phases over the coming days.
“Today marks the beginning of the prisoner swap,” Zelensky said in a post on social media. “Among those returning home are the wounded, those severely injured, and soldiers under the age of 25.”
The phased exchange is seen as one of the few areas of cooperation between the two sides amid ongoing war, offering hope for continued humanitarian gestures while larger diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
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