Russia, Ukraine Conduct Fourth POW Exchange This Week

Ukraine and Russia have conducted their fourth prisoner of war (POW) exchange in a week, following agreements reached during talks in Istanbul earlier this month. The latest swap involved the return of Russian servicemen from Ukrainian-controlled territories, with many receiving medical treatment in Belarus before transfer to Russia, while Ukraine received an undisclosed number of its soldiers and 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainian troops from Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the ongoing exchanges on social media and shared images of freed Ukrainian soldiers, some injured and others embracing loved ones. Russian Defense Ministry videos showed released soldiers celebrating with Russian flags and patriotic chants. Despite the exchanges, Russia has intensified its military offensive, particularly in the northeastern Sumy region, aiming to create a buffer zone near its Kursk region, though Zelensky said Ukrainian forces have halted Russian advances there and recaptured a village. Neither side disclosed the total number of POWs exchanged, and Ukraine did not confirm if any bodies were returned to Russia during the latest swap.