Ukraine outlines two key directions for POW exchanges with Russia

He said negotiations on the exchange of prisoners are ongoing.

“Talks with the opposing side on the exchange of prisoners continue without interruption. We are working in two main directions — returning our citizens under the agreements reached in Istanbul, as well as through the system of numbered exchanges,” Okhrimenko said.

He reminded that under the Istanbul agreements, those to be returned to Ukraine include the severely wounded, seriously ill, and young people under 25.

“Today’s exchanges are mixed — we are bringing back both those who fall under the Istanbul criteria and those we have managed to agree on during the negotiations,” he explained.

According to him, the Coordination Headquarters is also focused on securing the return of civilians as part of the negotiation process. Okhrimenko noted that the exchange process is complex and lengthy but continues to yield results.

On Oct. 2, 185 Ukrainian defenders and 20 civilians were returned from Russian captivity as part of an exchange.

The previous prisoner exchange took place on Aug. 24, when servicemembers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service, as well as civilians — including UNIAN journalist Dmytro Khilyuk — were freed.

Earlier, during an exchange on Aug. 14, 84 soldiers and civilians were released, some of whom had been held captive since 2014.