Russia, Ukraine conduct large-scale POW swap, each 390 people

MOSCOW -- Russia and Ukraine have conducted a major prisoner swap, exchanging 390 prisoners each under an agreement reached during recent talks in Istanbul, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry said 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians have returned from territory controlled by Kiev. In return, 270 Ukrainian prisoners and 120 civilians have also been released, it added.

The freed Russian prisoners are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with necessary psychological and medical assistance, said the ministry.

"The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side is planned to continue in the coming days," according to the ministry.

Following their direct negotiations in Istanbul last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest prisoner swap since the start of the conflict in 2022.