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Ukraine and Russia have reached an agreement to conduct the largest prisoner of war exchange and return of bodies since the conflict began in February 2022, following peace talks in Istanbul mediated by Turkey. The deal includes an “all-for-all” swap of seriously wounded and ill prisoners, as well as young soldiers aged 18 to 25. Both sides also agreed to return the bodies of approximately 6,000 fallen soldiers.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov described the swap as a major humanitarian step, emphasizing Kyiv’s broader demands for the release of all captives and abducted children. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the agreement, stating that the exchange would involve at least 1,000 prisoners from each side, with numbers still being verified. Moscow also proposed a temporary two- to three-day ceasefire in selected frontline areas to allow recovery of fallen soldiers’ bodies.
The Istanbul talks took place amid heightened fighting, including Ukraine’s unprecedented drone strikes on Russian bombers and a deadly Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military base in the Dnipro region. Despite agreeing on the prisoner exchange, Ukraine accused Moscow of rejecting calls for an unconditional ceasefire.
Kyiv has proposed further talks by the end of June to build on progress, but the current round, unlike last month’s inconclusive meeting, ended with a significant breakthrough on humanitarian issues. Turkey continues to play a crucial role as mediator, hosting several key diplomatic meetings aimed at de-escalating the conflict and facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
