Ukraine, Russia conduct 2nd phase of prisoner swap

KIEV/MOSCOW -- Ukraine and Russia on Thursday carried out the second phase of a prisoner exchange involving seriously ill and severely wounded captives, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service were among those released.

Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry said another group of Russian servicemen have returned from Ukrainian captivity and are currently receiving necessary medical and psychological assistance in Belarus.

The exchange is a part of a broader prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia, which started on Monday in line with an agreement reached in Turkiye's Istanbul last week.