Moscow: Russia and Ukraine handed over 390 soldiers and civilians, in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the two sides returned 270 soldiers and 120 civilians from the Ukrainian border with Belarus, as part of the only agreement reached during direct talks in Istanbul a week ago. The two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners and confirmed further exchanges in the coming days.

No other handover involved this number of civilians, although dozens of smaller exchanges have taken place. The Russian Defense Ministry announced: "The released prisoners include military personnel and civilians, including those captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region on the Russian border during Kyiv's offensive in recent months."