On July 23, the ninth stage of the prisoner exchange between the two countries took place. This time, more than 250 military personnel from both sides were returned home.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as part of this initiative agreed upon during the negotiations held in Istanbul on June 2, soldiers who had been in Russian captivity for over three years were also repatriated. "Thousands of families have had the opportunity to embrace their loved ones," Zelenskyy said.
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, also confirmed the prisoner exchange. According to him, in the latest stage, more than 250 military personnel were exchanged at the Ukraine-Belarus border. This brings the total number of returned soldiers to over 1,200.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that medical and psychological assistance is being provided to the Russian military personnel delivered to Belarus.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia has begun in Istanbul and proposed holding a meeting at the presidential level by the end of August.
