**New POW Exchange Brings Home Ukrainian Defenders Held in Russian Captivity**
In a significant development, Ukraine and Russia have conducted another prisoner of war (POW) exchange, bringing home a group of Ukrainian defenders held in Russian captivity since 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the news on July 4, stating that “our people are home” after being held captive for several years.
The exchange follows five previous swaps that took place in June under the Istanbul deal reached between Ukraine and Russia on June 2. The agreement allowed for the regular release of severely ill and wounded POWs from both sides, as well as the repatriation of the bodies of fallen soldiers. This latest exchange has brought home service members from various regions, including Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson.
“This is a significant step towards freeing all our people from Russian captivity,” Zelensky said in a statement. “We thank everyone who makes this possible.”
**Background to the Istanbul Agreement**
The Istanbul agreement was hailed as a humanitarian breakthrough despite the lack of broader political progress. As part of the deal, Moscow pledged to return the remains of up to 6,000 Ukrainian service members and civilians. Ukrainian authorities say Russia has already transferred over 6,000 bodies in recent weeks.
Ukraine continues to advocate for a full-scale “all-for-all” exchange, a proposal that Russia has so far rejected. However, both sides have carried out smaller, phased swaps, sometimes multiple in a single week.
**Context: Russia’s Ongoing Invasion**
The latest POW exchange comes as Russia continues its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with reports of fires breaking out across the city on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 hospitalized.
In related news, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he had made no progress in discussing the war in Ukraine.
**International Response**
The international community is watching developments closely, with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly telling the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas that Beijing cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine amid fears the U.S. would shift focus towards Beijing.
As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how these latest developments will impact the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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