Moscow: Russia and Ukraine have carried out a significant prisoner exchange, each releasing 390 detainees under an agreement reached during recent talks in Istanbul.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians have returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory. In exchange, Ukraine has received 270 prisoners and 120 civilians.
The freed Russian prisoners are now in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side is planned to continue in the coming days," according to the ministry.
Ukraine and Russia reached a deal on the largest swap of their captives during a meeting in Turkey's Istanbul on May 16.
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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that 390 Ukrainians returned home from captivity during the first stage of a prisoner exchange with Russia under the "1,000 for 1,000 formula".
"On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue," Zelensky wrote on social media platform X.
The Ukrainian president also emphasised that Ukraine will continue diplomatic efforts to return all its citizens who are still held in captivity.
(inputs from IANS)