**Ukraine and Russia Agree to Significant Prisoner Exchange**
In a breakthrough, Ukraine and Russia are set to conduct a major prisoner exchange this weekend. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia has agreed to transfer 500 Ukrainian military personnel as part of the deal.
This move comes after recent talks in Istanbul, where both sides failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire. However, they did manage to make some progress on organizing prisoner exchanges and repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers. The exchange will involve releasing prisoners from each side, with Russia committing to exchanging 500 prisoners as part of a larger agreement.
**Systematic Torture of Ukrainian POWs**
Unfortunately, many Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have been subjected to systematic torture in Russian captivity. According to reports, more than 95% of released Ukrainian POWs have experienced physical and psychological abuse while being held captive. This has included beatings with objects like rebar and bricks, electrocution, and other forms of mistreatment.
**Agreed Prisoner Lists and Wounded Soldiers**
In a positive development, both sides have agreed to share prisoner lists in advance of the exchange. This is a significant change from previous negotiations, where Ukraine had not received these lists beforehand. Russia has also committed to exchanging all severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war, as well as military personnel aged 18-25.
**Previous Manipulations Exposed**
It’s been reported that Russia previously manipulated prisoner exchanges by sending mostly former prisoners convicted of non-war-related crimes rather than captured Ukrainian soldiers or civilian activists. This move has been criticized, and it remains to be seen whether this behavior will change in the future.
**Returning Deceased Soldiers’ Remains**
The agreement also includes protocols for returning deceased soldiers’ remains. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of accurate identification procedures, noting that only 15-20% of recovered bodies have been properly identified so far.
**Large-Scale Prisoner Exchange in May**
This prisoner exchange comes on the heels of a previous large-scale exchange in May, where around 1,000 prisoners from each side were released. Since March 2022, Ukraine has secured the release of over 5,700 citizens through prisoner exchanges and other means.
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