Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as part of an ongoing agreement that has seen busloads of prisoners-of-war cross the border both ways. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service filmed returning soldiers reuniting with their loved ones.

A new prisoner of war (POW) exchange with Russia has taken place, bringing home another group of Ukrainian defenders held in Russian captivity, many since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on July 4.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday that it had carried out another prisoner exchange with Ukraine under agreements reached during direct peace talks in Istanbul last month. “On July 4, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements in Istanbul on June 2,

Russia and Ukraine today held a new exchange of prisoners of war, as part of the agreement reached last month in Istanbul, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement without specifying the exact number of prisoners. The two sides have exchanged prisoners several times during the war, the latest being on June 26.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released exclusive photos and videos from the prisoner exchange that took place on July 4. — Ukrinform.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the news on Telegram , according to Ukrinform. Our people are home. Most of them

People hold photos of their missed relatives as Ukrainian soldiers return from captivity during a POWs exchange between Russia and Ukraine, in Chernyhiv region, Ukraine, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP