Russia, Ukraine Swap Young POWs

Russia and Ukraine on Monday confirmed the completion of the first phase of a major prisoner exchange, with both sides repatriating young servicemen as part of a broader agreement reached during recent talks in Istanbul.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced the return of a group of its soldiers, all under the age of 25, who were transferred to Russian-allied Belarus. While the statement did not specify the number of individuals involved, the ministry emphasized that this marked the initial step in an ongoing process. The information was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In a corresponding announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv had also received a group of captives from Russia. “Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days,” Zelensky stated on social media, as reported by AFP.

He noted that among those returning to Ukraine are wounded and severely wounded personnel, as well as prisoners under the age of 25.

The development marks a rare humanitarian breakthrough amid a conflict that has seen limited diplomatic progress since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. The Istanbul-mediated exchange reflects ongoing efforts to maintain basic lines of communication and relieve the humanitarian toll of the war.

No further details have been released by either side regarding the total number of prisoners involved or the precise timeline of the next stages. However, the announcement signals an intent from both Moscow and Kyiv to proceed with additional exchanges in the near term.

(Source:Kurdistan24)