Russian soldiers returned from Ukrainian captivity – MOD (VIDEO)
In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the ministry shared a video of the Russian soldiers draped in Russian flags and boarding a bus to begin their journey home.
The servicemen are currently in Belarus where they are said to be receiving all necessary psychological and medical assistance. They will later be transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation, the ministry said.
The statement added that Ukrainian prisoners of war were sent back to Ukraine in exchange. Neither side has disclosed the numbers involved though a source has told RT that the exchange was equal.
Thursday's swap is the latest in a string of exchanges conducted by Russia and Ukraine since their latest direct talks in Istanbul on June 2. The previous exchange took place last Friday and another one was conducted the previous day.
The humanitarian exchanges since the June 2 negotiations have also included repatriation of the remains of slain soldiers. Russia has returned the remains of over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and received 57 in return.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Germany opposes territorial concessions in Ukraine conflict
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out any territorial concessions by Ukraine as part of potential peace negotiations with Russia, emphasizing that such decisions must rest solely with Kiev. Moscow has consistently called for recognition of the new territorial reality on the ground. The comment came shortly after Monday's White House meeting featuring US President Donald Trump, Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, and his key Western European backers, including Merz. The meeting was held two days after a successful summit in Alaska between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump. 'The Russian demand that Kiev should give up the free parts of the Donbass is, just to make the scale of it clear, comparable in scale to a proposal that the US should give up Florida,' the German chancellor told journalists on Monday, stressing that 'no territorial concessions should be made.' Merz admitted, however, that such decisions 'Ukraine must make on its own in the course of negotiations,' adding that 'a sovereign state cannot just decide something like that so easily.' Zelensky had previously refused outright to discuss any territorial concessions, stating that 'the Constitution of Ukraine does not allow the surrender of territories or the trading of land.' He, however, acknowledged that the land swaps were on the latest talks agenda at the White House. Following the summit in Anchorage, President Putin reiterated that the key to the settlement of the conflict is the elimination of its root causes for lasting peace. According to Moscow, Ukraine should renounce its ambitions for NATO membership, demilitarize, and recognize the current territorial realities, including the status of Crimea as well as of the People Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which voted to become parts of Russia in 2022. Trump has urged Ukraine to drop its NATO membership aspirations and relinquish claims to Crimea as preconditions for starting peace talks with Russia. The US president has asserted that accepting these terms could bring an almost immediate end to the conflict, aligning closely with Moscow's position on territorial reality.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Putin wants Ukraine conflict to end
US President Donald Trump has said that he believes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is really interested in settling the Ukraine conflict. Trump made the statement after meeting with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky at the White House on Monday. Zelensky had been summoned to Washington following the US president's summit with Putin in Alaska last week. The US leader said that during the talks in Anchorage, he had a 'good' discussion with Putin on stopping the fighting between Moscow and Kiev. 'And I think there is a possibility that something could come out of it,' he added. Trump suggested that a trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky and him could be organized in the near future and 'there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.' 'I know the president. I know myself, and I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it [the conflict] ended,' he claimed. Zelensky said that Kiev is also ready for a trilateral meeting, adding 'It is a good signal about trilateral. I think this is very good.' Trump phoned Putin on Monday to inform him about the progress in negotiations with Zelensky and the Western European leaders who had come to Washington to support him. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said later that the call lasted 40 minutes and both presidents expressed a readiness to discuss a resolution to the Ukraine conflict with Zelensky. Putin said after the summit in Alaska that it brings 'us closer' to peace. However, he reiterated that the elimination of the root causes of the crisis would be key to the settlement of the conflict. According to Moscow, in order for a lasting peace to be achieved, Ukraine should renounce its ambitions for NATO membership, demilitarize, and recognize the current territorial realities, including the status of Crimea and the four formerly Ukrainian regions which voted to join Russia in 2022.
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Zelensky backs meeting with Putin and Trump
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky said on Monday he supports holding a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office ahead of a round of meetings, Zelensky told reporters the proposal was 'a good idea.' Trump said that 'we will give them [Ukraine] very good protection, very good security,' after pointing out that a ceasefire may not be necessary for peace. Zelensky and his Western European backers had previously said that there could be no peace without a ceasefire first. Zelensky and several West European leaders are meeting with Trump and his team at the White House to discuss a possible resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Trump met with Putin in Alaska on Friday in a historic summit which both sides described as 'warm' and 'constructive.' Zelensky's last visit to the White House ended in disgrace, after he was accused of being disrespectful and told by the Trump that 'he does not hold the cards.' This time he is wearing a dark suit but no tie.
