1,000 prisoners released by each side amid ongoing conflict and deadly airstrikes
In a significant humanitarian development, Russia and Ukraine have completed the exchange of 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest swap since the war began over three years ago.
The final group of 303 Ukrainian prisoners was handed over on Sunday, concluding a three-day exchange that began on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the completion on social media, posting: “303 Ukrainian defenders are home.”
The agreement was brokered in Istanbul earlier this month, during the first face-to-face negotiations between the two sides since the conflict began in 2022. The deal, which also involved the release of civilians, has been hailed as the most tangible step toward peace to emerge from those talks.
Strikes Overshadow Progress
However, the optimism surrounding the prisoner release was quickly overshadowed by a massive Russian aerial assault on Ukraine, described by officials as the largest missile and drone attack since the full-scale invasion began.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured, Ukrainian authorities said. There was no immediate response from Moscow regarding the strikes. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces had shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Hope and Hesitation in Peace Efforts
Despite the renewed violence, diplomatic signals have surfaced. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Friday that Moscow would present a draft peace agreement to Ukraine following the prisoner exchange.
President Zelenskyy, posting again on Sunday, called for an urgent ceasefire and reiterated his pledge to bring every Ukrainian home.
The latest exchange adds to dozens of smaller swaps carried out since the war began, but it is notable for involving a large number of Ukrainian civilians. It comes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or wounded on both sides since the conflict erupted.
As hopes for diplomacy cautiously re-emerge, President Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to increase sanctions on Russia in response to the continued military aggression.
Zelenskyy Macron-and-Putin-2019-meeting-in-Paris-Picture-on-Flickr-by-kremlin.ru
