Russia-Ukraine POW Swap: Exchanged Prisoners Receive Medical and Psychological Aid in Belarus

As part of the prisoner exchange with Ukraine, 270 military personnel and 120 civilians have returned to Russia, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. An equal number of military personnel and civilians were handed over to Kyiv. The agreement was reached during direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16. The deal was first announced by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and later confirmed by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Both led their respective delegations at the meeting. According to Umerov, the sides agreed on the date of the exchange, but neither Russia nor Ukraine disclosed it in advance. It was later reported that the exchange would take place in several stages. Immediately after the talks, Russia and Ukraine began compiling lists of prisoners for the exchange. Following a meeting of the coordination council, Umerov submitted the plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 19.