Ukraine and Russia made another exchange of POWs on Saturday. On that day 307 defenders of our country returned to their homeland, as part of an agreement on the exchange of 1000 per 1000, – said the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski.
"Another 307 Ukrainian defenders are at home. present is the second day agreed in Turkey to exchange 1000 for 1000. Only in these 2 days 697 people returned. next day we anticipate a continuation," wrote the president on social networks.
He explained that Russia had given Ukraine soldiers of the Armed Forces, the State Border defender and the National Guard.
"I am grateful to all those active in the exchange process who work around the clock. Our goal is to return each and all Russian prisoner. We proceed to work with our partners to make this possible" - emphasised Zelenski.
On 16 May, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and the head of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul Rustem Umierov said after gathering with representatives of the Russian authorities that the parties had agreed to exchange prisoners of war in the format 1000 per 1000.
On Thursday, a typical of Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) Andrij Jusov said Ukraine had given Russia a list of prisoners of war to exchange.
Earlier on Thursday, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski held a gathering with Ukrainian institutions active in the process of exchanging prisoners of war in preparation for this project.
The first exchange happened on Friday. 390 prisoners - 270 military and 120 civilians returned to Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian prisoner of war coordination staff, there are about 8,000 officially confirmed military Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. 2,000 civilian prisoners were besides confirmed. The "Civils in captivity" initiative estimates the number of Ukrainian civilian prisoners imprisoned in Russia at 18,000.
Jarosław Junko (PAP)
