Russia, Ukraine complete second round POWs swap
Published: 05:06 PM,Jun 10,2025 | EDITED : 09:06 PM,Jun 10,2025
A Ukrainian prisoner of war (POWs) looks on as he stands witgh others after a swap. — Reuters
KYIV: Russia and Ukraine said on Tuesday they had exchanged captured soldiers, the second stage of an agreement struck at peace talks last week for each side to free more than 1,000 prisoners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday's exchange saw 'the return of our injured and severely wounded warriors from Russian captivity.' Neither side said how many soldiers had been freed in the swap — the second in as many days following another exchange on Monday.
The two sides had agreed in Istanbul last week to release all wounded soldiers and all under the age of 25. Russia's defence ministry said: 'In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on June 2 in Istanbul, the second group of Russian servicemen was returned.' Zelensky said further exchanges would follow. 'The exchanges are to continue. We are doing everything we can to find and return every single person who is in captivity.' The agreement had appeared in jeopardy over the weekend, with both sides trading accusations of attempting to thwart the exchange. — AFP
The two sides had agreed in Istanbul last week to release all wounded soldiers and all under the age of 25. Russia's defence ministry said: 'In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on June 2 in Istanbul, the second group of Russian servicemen was returned.' Zelensky said further exchanges would follow. 'The exchanges are to continue. We are doing everything we can to find and return every single person who is in captivity.' The agreement had appeared in jeopardy over the weekend, with both sides trading accusations of attempting to thwart the exchange. — AFP