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Russia and Ukraine exchanged 540 people on Friday in what officials described as the first phase of a large-scale prisoner swap, marking the implementation of an agreement reached in Istanbul last week.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians were returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory, while Ukraine received an equal number of military personnel and civilians in return.
"On May 23, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements concluded on May 16 in Istanbul, 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians, including those captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk Region, were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime," the ministry said in a statement.
The exchange represents one of the largest prisoner swaps between the two countries since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Previous exchanges have typically involved smaller numbers of detainees.
Russian officials said the repatriated servicemen and civilians are currently receiving psychological support and medical care in Belarus before being transferred to medical facilities in Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The May 16 Istanbul agreement appears to have established a framework for continued exchanges, with the Russian Defense Ministry indicating that additional large-scale swaps are planned for the coming days.
The reference to captives from the Kursk Region highlights the cross-border nature of the conflict, as Ukrainian forces have conducted operations in Russian border areas during the war.
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