**Ukraine Aims to Return Up to 1,200 Prisoners in Next Exchange with Russia**
In a major breakthrough, Ukraine is seeking to return up to 1,200 prisoners of war (POWs) from Russia in the next exchange, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 2. The move comes after direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Istanbul earlier that day.
According to Zelensky, the next prisoner swap is expected to be carried out in a 1,000-for-1,000 format, with the possibility of increasing the number to 1,200 people on each side. This would be a significant improvement from the previous exchange, which saw only 1,000 Ukrainian POWs returned.
The upcoming exchange will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as individuals with serious injuries. Zelensky also hinted that future swaps could involve imprisoned journalists and political prisoners held in Russia.
**Importance of Transparency in Prisoner Exchange**
Zelensky emphasized the importance of transparency in the prisoner exchange process, stating that it is crucial for Ukraine to be able to check the lists of prisoners in advance. This comes after criticism that Ukraine failed to secure the release of Azov fighters and civilians who had been held captive by Russia for years.
“It is very important that the Russians allow the lists to be checked in advance, unlike last time,” Zelensky said during an online press conference.
**Previous Prisoner Exchange Criticized**
The previous prisoner exchange, which took place from May 23 to 25, was criticized for not including Azov fighters and civilians who had been held captive by Russia. The inclusion of Anatolii Taranenko, a Ukrainian service member accused of collaborating with Russia, in the exchange list also sparked controversy.
Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), acknowledged that Ukraine could not influence who Russia decided to release in the recent swap. However, he emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the prisoner exchange process.
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