Russian Servicemen
Amid the ongoing hostilities on the Ukrainian front lines, the warring sides continue exchanging their prisoners of war (POWs). The latest exchange took place on June 12.
As a result of negotiations, Moscow and Kiev exchanged almost 200 servicemen. They included 94 Russian servicemen released from Ukrainian captivity. The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) declared that Russian POWs captured during the recent battles in the Russian Belgorod region were handed over to the Russian side. LINK
According to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Kiev received 95 servicemen, including 93 soldiers and two officers. Ukrainian POWs included servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, members of the National Guard and border guards, as well as prisoners who surrendered at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol in 2022.
The exchange took place on the eve of the Russian national holiday Russia Day, Day of adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of RSFSR, which is celebrated on June 12.
Ukrainian POWs
Russian POWs:
The leader of the RVC of the AFU declared that one of the Russian POWs, fighter of the Wagner PMC, refused to return to Ukraine and decided to fight in the ranks of the RVC, which is mainly used by Kiev to stage attacks on the Russian territory. The POW preferred to die filming TikTok videos for Kiev, then fighting in fair battles for his country.
The head of the Wagner PMC confirmed the reports, warning that all traitors are punished according to the traditions of the PMC.
‘Indeed, Vladislav Izmailov arrived at the Wagner PMC from the colony in Samara and was captured in November. Vladislav Izmailov is a traitor, and I am sure that he will suffer a worthy punishment, that all traitors deserve, according to the traditions of the Wagner PMC. I hope we find and kill him in a fair fight,’ Prigozhin commented on the issue.
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The previous exchange took place on May 25. Eight officers and 98 soldiers from the Artemovsky (Bakhmut) direction returned to Ukraine. The exchange from the Russian side was carried out by the Wagner PMC, said Russian Ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova, without specifying how many Russians returned.
Earlier in the same month, the Ukrainian side announced the release of 45 Ukrainian servicemen as part of the exchange, and the Russian Defense Ministry announced the return of three pilots; the agency did not reveal other details of the exchange. On May 5, the Ukrainian authorities announced the transfer of the bodies of 80 dead Ukrainian soldiers to the country.
