Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners of war on Monday (9 June), the first swap since the two nations engaged in a second round of peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month. Speaking in a video shared on the Telegram app, the Ukrainian president said that the swap involved those that are seriously wounded, as well as those under the age of 25. “I thank everyone who is helping to carry out the exchange and working to ensure that all our people can return home – home from Russian captivity,” he said, adding that the trade will be done in several stages over the coming days. Russia’s Defence Ministry also confirmed the return of the first group of Russian POWs, without providing information on the swapped military personnel.

The prisoners of war being exchanged are wounded or under 25 years old, President Zelensky says.

The two sides agreed during a recent meeting to swap soldiers aged 18 to 25, as well as seriously wounded or ill prisoners, and to return the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners of war on Monday (9 June), the first swap since the two nations engaged in a second round of…

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on the US to exercise its ‘power to force Russia into peace’.

On June 7, Ukraine unexpectedly delayed "both the acceptance of bodies and the exchange of prisoners of war," Vladimir Medinsky recalled

Ukraine and Russia earlier returned fallen soldiers’ remains; Moldova and Romania next for putin, Zelenskyy tells regional summit. What we know on day 1.205