Russia and Ukraine swap more POWs in second exchange in two days
MOSCOW : Russia and Ukraine completed another round of prisoner exchanges on Friday, officials in both countries said, part of a recent agreement to swap POWs and the bodies of dead soldiers.
Neither Russian nor Ukrainian officials specified how many people were involved in the exchange, the second in two days.
Writing on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said most of his country's POWs had been held by Russia for more than two years, and had been captured across various parts of the sprawling front line.
Russia's defence ministry said the Russian POWs included in the exchange were currently in Belarus, which shares borders with both warring countries.
The two countries have carried out a series of swaps of captured troops and the remains of dead soldiers since renewing peace talks in Istanbul last month after a gap of more than three years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Kremlin does not rule out Putin-Trump meeting in China in September
MOSCOW, July 28 — The Kremlin today said it was not ruling out a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in September in China. Putin is due to visit China in early September for celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. 'If it so happens that in the end the US president decides to visit China during those days, then of course such a meeting cannot in theory be excluded,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters including AFP at a briefing. — AFP
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Russia launches first direct flights to N. Korea amid deepening wartime alliance
MOSCOW, July 28 — Russia on Sunday began direct commercial flights to North Korea, in a further sign of closer ties with its Asian ally helping its offensive in Ukraine. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia's Nordwind Airlines, took off at 1625 GMT, according to the Sheremetyevo airport's website. It is scheduled to land in the North Korean capital some eight hours later. But initially, the route will only be serviced once a month, Russia's transport ministry said. Nordwind Airlines — which used to carry Russians to holiday destinations in Europe before the EU imposed a ban on Russian flights — had tickets priced at 45,000 rubles (RM2,410). 'This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations,' Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told AFP at the airport. He also declined to say how many passengers were on board. 'For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between the capitals of our countries,' Russia's deputy transport minister Vladimir Poteshkin was quoted as saying by the ministry's Telegram account. Russia's state news agency TASS reported that the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow would take place on Tuesday. Russia and North Korea restored train links on June 17 after suspending them in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. The two countries have been forging closer military bonds in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops and weapons for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. They signed a mutual defence pact last year, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea. North Korea confirmed for the first time in April that it had deployed a contingent of its soldiers to the frontline in Ukraine, alongside Russian troops. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
EU urges Ukraine to uphold independent anti-corruption bodies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the bill could be adopted as early as next week. (EPA Images pic) BRUSSELS : European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called on Sunday for president Volodymyr Zelensky to uphold independent anti-corruption bodies, with the Ukrainian leader signalling that supporting legislation could be adopted within days. 'Ukraine has already achieved a lot on its European path. It must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine's rule of law,' von der Leyen said in a post on X after a call with Zelenskiy. After a rare outburst of public criticism, Zelensky on Thursday submitted draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies – reversing the course of an earlier bill aimed at stripping their autonomy. 'I thanked the European Commission for the provided expertise,' Zelenskiy said in a post on X after his Sunday call with von der Leyen. 'We share the same vision: it is important that the bill is adopted without delay, as early as next week.' Von der Leyen also promised continued support for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. 'Ukraine can count on our support to deliver progress on its European path,' she added.
