Russia and Ukraine exchange 307 prisoners on the second day of large-scale swap

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 307 prisoners of war from each country on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said, marking the second day of the largest prisoner exchange in more than three years of conflict.

"Another 307 members of the Russian Army were transferred" from Ukraine and are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving "medical and psychological help," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "In return, 307 Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred," the source added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the information on X, assuring that "in just these two days, 697 people have been brought home."

According to the Ukrainian president, "Among those who returned today are warriors from our Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard of Ukraine."

"Our goal is to bring every single person back from Russian captivity. We continue cooperating with our partners to make this possible," Zelensky concluded.

On Friday, the Ukrainian president confirmed that his country repatriated 390 people in the first phase of a large-scale prisoner exchange with Russia, which will last until Sunday.

"The first stage of the '1000-for-1000' exchange agreement has been carried out," with the repatriation of "390 people," he said in X. "On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue," Zelensky added.

Russia announced Friday that it swapped 270 military personnel and 120 civilians captured with Ukraine, in an exchange agreed with Kiev at talks in Istanbul last week.

"270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians ... were returned. In return, 270 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Army and 120 civilians were handed over," the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram.

This agreement is the first step following negotiations in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian authorities.