Russia and Ukraine conducted the first stage of a new prisoner exchange

The first group of Russian prisoners of war under the age of 25 has returned from territory controlled by Kyiv as part of the Istanbul agreements.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The exact number of participants in the exchange was not specified.

"The first group of Russian servicemen under the age of 25 has been returned. In exchange, a similar number of Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners of war was transferred," the defense ministry's statement said.

Currently, the Russian servicemen are in Belarus, where they are receiving necessary psychological and medical assistance. Later they will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation in medical facilities of the Ministry of Defense.

Recall that the parties at the negotiations in Istanbul agreed on the largest prisoner exchange since the beginning of hostilities: severely ill and severely wounded, as well as military personnel under 25 years old will be exchanged in an "all for all" format.

They also agreed on the exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers in a "6,000 for 6,000" format, announced the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The head of the Russian delegation, Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, stated that Moscow promised to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers to Kyiv unilaterally.