Kiev/Moscow, 9 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russia and Ukraine launched on Monday a new prisoner exchange, agreed earlier this month during direct negotiations in Istanbul between representatives from both countries.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the first group of Russian soldiers under the age of 25 has been released from Ukrainian captivity. In return, a similar number of Ukrainian prisoners were handed over by Moscow. Neither side disclosed the exact number of individuals involved.

Moscow said the repatriated Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical assistance.

“Our people are home,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X. He confirmed the return of young soldiers and seriously injured individuals but did not provide specific figures.

Zelensky said the exchange process is "quite complex," though he expressed hope that the Istanbul agreement would be fully implemented.

He said the swaps would "continue in several stages over the coming days."

Tensions had flared between Moscow and Kiev over the timing of the exchange.

Young and injured soldiers prioritized

The latest exchange stems from the second round of talks held in Istanbul a week ago. Both sides agreed to swap young soldiers aged 18 to 25, along with seriously wounded or ill prisoners of war, and to return the bodies of fallen soldiers. The arrangement could eventually involve over 1,000 individuals from each side. The first phase of the exchange had originally been scheduled for the weekend.

Photo: epa