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Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW alternate

War in UkraineUkraine, Russia conduct new POW alternate

Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange

Editor's observe: This can be a creating story and is being up to date.

A brand new prisoner of conflict (POW) alternate with Russia has taken place, bringing dwelling one other group of Ukrainian defenders held in Russian captivity, many since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on July 4.

"Our persons are dwelling. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022," Zelensky mentioned in an announcement.

In accordance with Ukraine's Land Forces, the group contains prisoners categorized as "wounded and severely unwell," these "below the age of 25," and civilians.

The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of Battle confirmed that this newest alternate was carried out below President Zelensky's directive, and included defenders of Mariupol held since 2022, in addition to civilians who had been illegally sentenced or disadvantaged of liberty.

"At the moment, our defenders are returning, those that fought for Ukraine in numerous areas: Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson. These are troopers of the Armed Forces, the Nationwide Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the State Particular Transport Service, and in addition civilians," Zelesnky mentioned.

Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange
Not too long ago launched Ukrainian prisoners of conflict returned dwelling following a POW alternate with Russia on July 4, 2025. (The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of Battle / Telegram)
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchangeUkraine, Russia conduct new POW exchangeUkraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange

The alternate follows 5 swaps that occurred in June below the Istanbul deal reached between Ukraine and Russia on June 2. The settlement supplied for the common launch of severely unwell and wounded POWs from each side, in addition to the repatriation of the our bodies of fallen troopers.

Earlier swaps have introduced dwelling service members from the Armed Forces, Nationwide Guard, and State Border Guard Service, a lot of whom had been captured in 2022 throughout the Russian invasion.

"Exchanges should proceed, and I thank everybody who makes this attainable," Zelensky mentioned. "Ukraine's objective is to free all our individuals from Russian captivity. I thank everybody who helps make that occur."

Russia's Protection Ministry confirmed the alternate on July 4, with out disclosing the variety of troopers returned.

Earlier exchanges have centered on people with critical medical wants ensuing from accidents and harsh circumstances in captivity. Some beforehand launched prisoners had defended Mariupol throughout the 2022 siege, whereas others fought in areas together with Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Kyiv oblasts.

The Istanbul settlement adopted months of stalled negotiations and was hailed as a humanitarian breakthrough regardless of the shortage of broader political progress.

As a part of the deal, Moscow pledged to return the stays of as much as 6,000 Ukrainian service members and civilians. Ukrainian authorities say Russia has already transferred over 6,000 our bodies in current weeks.

Ukraine continues to advocate for a full-scale "all-for-all" alternate, a proposal that Russia has up to now rejected. Nonetheless, each side have carried out smaller, phased swaps, typically a number of in a single week.

Explained: How Ukraine negotiates prisoner of war swaps with RussiaEven after Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Russia in 2022, prisoner exchanges have continued as one of the few remaining channels of communication between the two countries. Negotiated behind closed doors and carried out irregularly, POW swaps — and the decisions surrounding them — have long been shrouded in secrecy. Controversies haveUkraine, Russia conduct new POW exchangeThe Kyiv IndependentDaria ShulzhenkoUkraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange

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