Gladness Gideon
Ukraine’s military intelligence has confirmed that a planned exchange of prisoners of war with Russia is scheduled to commence next week, following earlier accusations by both sides of efforts to delay the swap.
The head of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, announced the development on Sunday, stating that preparations were underway to implement the agreement reached earlier this month.
“The start of repatriation activities based on the results of the negotiations in Istanbul is scheduled for next week,” Budanov said via social media.
The agreement, reached on June 2, covers not only the exchange of captured soldiers but also the repatriation of the bodies of fallen troops from both sides — a humanitarian gesture seen as rare amid the ongoing hostilities.
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Tensions had flared in recent days over mutual accusations by Kyiv and Moscow of obstructing or stalling the planned exchange. However, the announcement by Ukrainian officials suggests that diplomatic channels have produced progress.
The Istanbul talks, which involved delegations from both countries, are part of a broader effort to maintain limited communication on humanitarian matters, even as broader ceasefire negotiations remain elusive.
No official date has been given for the start of the swap, and there has been no immediate comment from Russian authorities on the Ukrainian announcement.