Russia and Ukraine carried out a uncommon prisoner swap Monday involving captives underneath 25, marking the primary in a sequence of deliberate exchanges that would change into the biggest of the struggle, as emotional reunions unfolded on either side.
The alternate was the results of direct talks between the 2 sides in Istanbul on June 2 that resulted in an settlement to alternate no less than 1,200 POWs on both sides and to repatriate hundreds of our bodies of these killed in Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.
The return of POWs and the repatriation of the our bodies of the useless is without doubt one of the few issues the 2 sides have managed to agree on as broader negotiations have didn’t get near ending the struggle, now in its fourth 12 months.
Fighting has raged on, with Russia saying Monday its forces had taken management of extra territory in Ukraine’s east-central area of Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv saying Moscow had launched its largest drone assault of the struggle.
Officials in Kyiv mentioned among the Ukrainian prisoners who got here residence Monday had been in Russian captivity because the starting of the struggle.
At a rendezvous level for the returning Ukrainian prisoners, quickly after they crossed again into northern Ukraine, an official handed one of many freed males a cellphone in order that he may name his mom, a video launched by Ukrainian authorities confirmed.
“Hi mum, I’ve arrived, I’m home!” the soldier shouted into the receiver, struggling to catch his breath as a result of he was overcome by emotion.
The launched Ukrainian males had been later taken by bus to a hospital in northern Ukraine, the place they had been to have medical checks and be given showers, meals and care packages together with cell phones and sneakers.
Jubilation was tinged with disappointment as a result of outdoors the hospital had been crowds of individuals, principally girls, in search of kinfolk who went lacking whereas preventing for Ukraine.
The girls held up photos of the lacking males within the hope that one of many returning POWs would acknowledge them and share particulars about what occurred to them. Some hoped their family members could be amongst these launched.
Oksana Kupriyenko, 52, was holding up a picture of her son, Denys, who went lacking in September 2024.
“Tomorrow is my birthday and I was hoping God will give me a gift and return my son to me,” she mentioned, by means of tears.
Psychological help
Neither aspect mentioned what number of prisoners had been swapped on Monday, however the Russian Defense Ministry mentioned in its personal assertion that the identical variety of navy personnel had been exchanged on both sides.
Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky mentioned on the weekend that the primary record of 640 POWs had been handed to Ukraine.
The Russian navy mentioned its returned servicemen had been now in Belarus, an in depth Russian ally, the place they had been receiving psychological and medical help earlier than being transferred to Russia for additional care.
Footage broadcast by Russia’s RIA state news company confirmed a bunch of freed Russian troopers on board a coach elevating their fingers within the air and shouting: “Hurrah, we’re home.”
The identical group was proven holding a Russian flag and chanting “Russia! Russia!” earlier than boarding the coach.
“It is very difficult to convey what I’m feeling inside now. But I am very happy, proud, and grateful to everyone who took part in this process, in the exchange and bringing us home,” mentioned one freed Russian soldier.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned his nation had acquired the primary group of prisoners from Russia and that it will take a number of days to finish the swap.
Both sides say the intention for this spherical of prisoner swaps can also be handy over people who find themselves gravely ailing or severely injured. The individuals seen being handed over to this point on Monday gave the impression to be match and nicely.
“Today’s exchange has begun. It will be done in several stages in the coming days,” Zelenskyy mentioned on the Telegram app.
“The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day. We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul. We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com