Ukraine and Russia exchange 780 soldiers and civilians in the largest swap

Russia and Ukraine have handed over more than 390 soldiers and civilians in the largest exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022.

Both returned 270 soldiers and 120 civilians on the Ukrainian border with Belarus, as part of the only deal agreed upon in the direct talks in Istanbul a week ago.

The two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners and confirmed that there will be another barter in the coming days.

Although dozens of smaller stock exchanges are on a scale, no one else has participated in many civilians.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the soldiers and civilians, including those who seized it by the Ukrainian forces in the Korsk border area in Russia during the Kiev attack in recent months, were among those who were delivered.

The ministry said that they were currently in the Belarusian lands and they had to transfer them to Russia for medical examinations and treatment.

“We are bringing our people home,” Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinski announced on social media.

“We check each title, and all the details of everyone.”

Coordination headquarters in Ukraine told prisoners of war that 270 Ukrainian soldiers fought in areas through the east and north, from Kiev, Chernehif, Sumi, to Donetsk, Karkiv, and Khairsson.

Officials said that three of the 390 that were issued on Friday were women, and some soldiers have been detained since 2022.

US President Donald Trump previously published his congratulations on his social platform for the truth, claiming that the swap was complete and that “this could lead to a big thing ???”.

The families of the Ukrainian soldiers who were held by Russia in northern Ukraine gathered on Friday in the hope that their children and their husbands would be among those who were released.

Natalia, whose son Yelizar was arrested during the battle for the city of Severodonitsk three years ago, told the BBC that she believed that he would return, but she did not know when.

The first of her said that since her son Valerie was arrested with five other soldiers in the east, her life stopped, because she did not know whether they were still alive.

“They were arrested two months ago in Luhansk. They were lost in a village.”

It was agreed to swap prisoners in Turkey a week ago, when the low -level delegations from Ukraine and Russia faced face to face for the first time since March 2022, although the meeting lasted only two hours and failed to make any progress towards a ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that there will be a second round of talks, when Moscow took a “memo” to the Ukrainian side.

Trump said earlier this week that Russia and Ukraine “will start” immediately “negotiate to stop the shooting and end the war, after a two -hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Since then, at Zelinski Putin has accused “trying to buy time” To continue the war.

Prime Minister Italy, Giorgia Meloni I supported a suggestion from Trump The Vatican may mediate talks about negotiating the ceasefire, but Lavrov said this is “not a very realistic option.”

The Russian Foreign Minister reiterated an unfounded claim that Zelinski was not a legitimate leader and suggested that new elections be held before the signing of a possible peace agreement in the future.

When asked if Russia is ready to sign a deal, Lavrov said: “First, we need to make a deal.

He said a ready agreement, “Russia will see among those in power in Ukraine legitimate.”

“The main task now is to prepare a peace agreement that will be reliable and provide a long -term, stable and fair peace without creating security threats for anyone. In our case, we are interested in Russia.”