00:00President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin-led
00:05Russia government has set free first badge of Ukrainian prisoners in line with the agreement
00:10both countries reached at the last peace meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, adding that,
00:16the Russia war in Ukraine is still intense apokrosk area of Sumi region.
00:21In a video and written press releases on Monday, President Zelensky said,
00:25Today, the first stage of the prisoner exchange agreed in Istanbul has begun.
00:31More stages will follow, at least, that's what was discussed with the Russian side.
00:37I thank everyone making it happen. I also held a meeting on June's international agenda.
00:43No meeting should be hollow. If it doesn't bring us closer to ending the war through diplomacy,
00:49it must help strengthen our defense, our active operations, or increase pressure on Russia.
00:54I thank our warriors for their tenacity. The most intense fighting continues in the apokrosk direction,
01:01in the areas of the Kursk operation, and along the border in the Sumi region.
01:06Russian tactics remain the same everywhere. Ignore losses and try to advance.
01:11But this potential isn't infinite. A certain level of casualties, and our actions, shouldn't do hinder their advance.
01:19Our people are home. Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity.
01:25Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days.
01:31Among those we are bringing back now are the wounded, the severely wounded, and those under the age of 25.
01:38The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day.
01:44We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul.
01:52We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person.
01:56We are working toward this at every level.
01:58We must bring home everyone who remains in captivity.
02:02I thank everyone who is helping.
02:04Euronews media that also monitored the prisoners swap, reported that the, Ukraine and Russia have started a new prisoners of war exchange,
02:13following the agreement reached at the second round of direct talks in Istanbul last Monday.
02:19Kiev and Moscow agreed that the exchange would include young soldiers under 25 years old and those severely ill.
02:26Russia's defense ministry confirmed the return of the first group of Russian, prisoners of war, POWs as well, without providing details on the swapped soldiers.
02:37Ukraine's coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said that the first group of released prisoners includes personnel from Ukraine's Navy,
02:46ground forces, Air Force, National Guard, Border Guard Service, Territorial Defense, and Special Transport Service.
02:54Among those returned on Monday are the defenders of Mariupol, who have spent over three years in Russian captivity.
03:02Most of those returned were captured in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine's ombudsman D. Emitro Lubinets said.
03:12The sides have also agreed to exchange the bodies of the fallen service people.
03:17On Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of postponing the swap and failing to respect the agreement.
03:22Moscow said that the trains carrying the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were due to depart towards the Ukrainian border,
03:30accusing Kiev of not collecting them.
03:33Russia's Lieutenant General Alexander Zorin told the state-run TASS news agency the transfer of more than 6,000 Ukrainian bodies
03:42had been aggrieved during the talks in Turkey.
03:45Kiev categorically denied the accusations.
03:48Kirillov Budinov, the head of Ukrainian DEFENSE intelligence, said that Ukraine was strictly adhering to the agreements reached at the second round of talks in Istanbul.
03:59Budinov stated that the start of repatriation measures was scheduled to take place next week,
04:05which he claims the Russian side informed him of a few days ago.
04:09In his Sunday address, Zelensky accused Russia of playing a dirty political and information game on the agreed power exchange.
04:18Kiev says it has brought back over 5,000 prisoners of war in a series of exchanges since March.
04:24Ukraine continues to offer Russia an all-for-all swap, a proposal Moscow has so far rejected.
