Prisoners of War Exchanged Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a poignant development amid continuing conflict, Ukraine and Russia conducted a noteworthy exchange of prisoners of war on Thursday, as confirmed by officials from both nations. This exchange aligns with an earlier agreement brokered in Istanbul.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine publicly shared images of the liberated Ukrainian troops, who were seen smiling under the embrace of the national flag. Most of these soldiers had been in captivity since the initial months following Russia's February 2022 invasion. The Ukrainian POWs involved in the recent swap were reportedly sick or injured, according to Kyiv's coordinating council for POWs.

Moscow's defense ministry similarly indicated that the Russian POWs would undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation. However, neither Ukraine nor Russia disclosed the precise number of prisoners exchanged, despite the fact that negotiations to end the ongoing war have thus far yielded few significant results other than these prisoner or remains exchanges.

(With inputs from agencies.)