On Friday, June 20, the next stage of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine took place as part of the agreements reached during peace negotiations in Istanbul on June 2. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
According to the Ministry of Defense, at the moment, Russian military personnel are located in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance.
In the near future, all returned military personnel will be delivered to medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defense for treatment and subsequent rehabilitation.
In addition, the agency noted that the Russian side handed over to Ukraine a group of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky also confirmed the exchange of prisoners with Russia.
“the majority of the soldiers who are returning from Russian captivity today have been there for more than two years. And finally they are at home. These are the defenders of Mariupol, Donetchina, Luhansk, Zaporozhye, Kherson region, Kharkiv region and Chernihiv region. Warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Service,” the Ukrainian leader in publication on his official official Telegram channel.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to everyone who helped in the return of the military. “We work so that the exchanges continue further – until we return everyone. Glory to Ukraine!”, He summed up.
Earlier, on June 2, the second round of peace negotiations took place in Istanbul, which took place in the Palace of Chyragan. The parties reached an agreement on humanitarian issues, including the exchange of prisoners of war from among the wounded, seriously ill and persons under 25 years of age, as well as the transfer of more than 6 thousand bodies of the dead.
The first round of Istanbul peace negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine took place on May 16 in the residence of Dolmabakhche.