Moscow: Russia and Ukraine exchanged more captured soldiers on Friday, the latest in a series of prisoner swaps agreed at peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month. The negotiations failed to make progress towards a ceasefire but both countries agreed to free more than 1,000 prisoners of war from each side -- all wounded, ill or under 25 years old.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, "A group of Russian servicemen was returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war was handed over," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement.
The prisoner exchanges have been one of the few areas where both countries have been able to reach some form of agreement amid ongoing hostilities. The swaps are seen as a humanitarian gesture aimed at alleviating the suffering of captured soldiers and their families. The process involves complex negotiations and coordination between both parties to ensure safe and orderly transfers.
The recent exchange highlights the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has seen numerous rounds of negotiations with limited success. Despite the challenges, both sides continue to engage in talks, hoping to achieve broader agreements that could lead to a potential ceasefire or resolution to the conflict.