Prisoner Exchange: 45 Ukrainian Fighters for 3 Russian Pilots

Ukraine praised the return of 45 fighters from the Azov Battalion who had been captured during the Battle of Mariupol. Russia stated that Kyiv had released three of its pilots, but neither side provided details on what appears to be a prisoner exchange. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, noted that among the released Ukrainian prisoners, there were 42 men and three women from the Azov Battalion. The Russian Defense Ministry reported in a statement that three pilots have been returned and are receiving medical and psychological assistance. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency, responsible for coordinating prisoner exchange operations with Russia, did not respond to requests for further details.