Moscow [Russia], June 11 (HBTV): A second group of Russian prisoners of war (POWs) has been released from Ukrainian captivity following a major prisoner swap agreement between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul last week, Russia Today reported, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.
According to Russia Today, while the Defence Ministry did not disclose the number of servicemen released, it shared a video showing the freed soldiers draped in Russian flags preparing to board buses. The soldiers are currently receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus and will soon be transferred to Russian military hospitals for rehabilitation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange, calling it ‘the first stage’ of a swap involving ‘seriously wounded... soldiers’ and described it as ‘an important humanitarian act’.
Russia Today reported that during the second round of direct negotiations in Istanbul, both sides agreed to exchange seriously injured, ill, or under-25 captives. However, the Russian Defence Ministry did not specify which categories were included in this phase.
In addition, Russia announced the return of over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers as a unilateral humanitarian gesture. On Saturday, Moscow attempted to hand over 1,212 bodies, but according to Russia Today, Ukrainian representatives did not arrive at the exchange point.
Meanwhile, more than 100 civilians, including a child, were injured and four killed in Russian regions over the past week due to Ukrainian strikes, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik told TASS. Most injuries were reportedly caused by FPV drone attacks, with the highest casualties recorded in Belgorod, Kursk, Luhansk, and Zaporozhye.
Miroshnik claimed nearly 1,800 munitions, mostly of Western origin, were launched at civilian targets. He also referred to the failed prisoner exchange on Saturday, saying Ukraine had postponed the swap at the last minute. Ukraine, however, denied the claim, calling it ‘dirty games’ and citing the absence of confirmed timing.
Despite the setback, CNN reported that both countries plan to conduct another exchange during peace talks in Istanbul this weekend.
Separately, the Kyiv Independent reported that Kyiv and Odesa came under a mass Russian attack on June 10. In Kyiv, four people were injured, while in Odesa, two were killed and at least eight wounded. Medical facilities, including a maternity hospital, were also damaged.
(ANI)