President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin led Russia government has set free first badge of Ukrainian prisoners in line with the agreement both countries reached at the last peace meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, adding that, the Russia war in Ukraine is still intense at Pokrovsk area of Sumy region.

In a video and written press releases on Monday, President Zelenskyy said; “Today, the first stage of the prisoner exchange agreed in Istanbul has begun.

More stages will follow — at least, that’s what was discussed with the Russian side. I thank everyone making it happen.

I also held a meeting on June’s international agenda: no meeting should be hollow. If it doesn’t bring us closer to ending the war through diplomacy, it must help strengthen our defense, our active operations, or increase pressure on Russia.

I thank our warriors for their tenacity. The most intense fighting continues in the Pokrovsk direction, in the areas of the Kursk operation, and along the border in the Sumy region.

Russian tactics remain the same everywhere: ignore losses and try to advance. But this potential isn’t infinite.

A certain level of casualties — and our actions — should and do hinder their advance.

Our people are home. Ukrainians are returning home from Russian captivity. Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days.

Among those we are bringing back now are the wounded, the severely wounded, and those under the age of 25. The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day.

We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul. We are doing everything possible to bring back every single person.

We are working toward this at every level.
We must bring home everyone who remains in captivity. I thank everyone who is helping.

EuroNews media that also monitored the prisoners’ swap, reported that the “Ukraine and Russia have started a new prisoners of war exchange, following the agreement reached at the second round of direct talks in Istanbul last Monday.

Kyiv and Moscow agreed that the exchange would include young soldiers under 25 years old and those severely ill.

Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the return of the first group of Russian (Prisoners of War,) POWs as well, without providing details on the swapped soldiers.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that the first group of released prisoners includes personnel from Ukraine’s navy, ground forces, air force, national guard, border guard service, territorial defence, and special transport service.

Among those returned on Monday are the defenders of Mariupol, who have spent over three years in Russian captivity.

“Most of those returned were captured in the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022,” Ukraine’s ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.

The sides have also agreed to exchange the bodies of the fallen service people.

On Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of postponing the swap and failing to respect the agreement.

Moscow said that the trains carrying the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were due to depart towards the Ukrainian border, accusing Kyiv of “not collecting them”.

Russia’s Lieutenant General Aleksandr Zorin told the state-run TASS news agency the transfer of “more than 6,000 (Ukrainian) bodies” had been agreed during the talks in Turkey.

Kyiv categorically denied the accusations. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian Defenсe Intelligence, said that Ukraine was strictly adhering to the agreements reached at the second round of talks in Istanbul.

Budanov stated that the start of “repatriation measures” was scheduled to take place next week, which he claims the Russian side informed him of a few days ago.

In his Sunday address, Zelenskyy accused Russia of “playing a dirty political and information game” on the agreed POW exchange.

Kyiv says it has brought back over 5,000 prisoners of war in a series of exchanges since March.

Ukraine continues to offer Russia an “all-for-all” swap — a proposal Moscow has so far rejected”.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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