Russia says it returned 2,300 servicemen through Istanbul talks with Ukraine

Russia has recovered about 2,300 military personnel as a result of agreements reached with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with Izvestia.

Following meetings with the Ukrainian delegation, Russia also secured the return of around 170 civilians, Galuzin said in the interview, cited by Caliber.Az.

In addition, Moscow received the bodies of 200 fallen servicemen, he added.

“As for the Ukrainian side, about 2,400 servicemen and roughly 170 civilians were returned to them,” Galuzin said.

Russia and Ukraine held three rounds of talks in Istanbul in 2025, on May 16, June 2, and July 23.

Direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed in 2025 after being suspended since early 2022. The renewed talks were mediated by Türkiye and took place amid increased U.S. pressure under President Donald Trump to achieve humanitarian progress and explore the possibility of a ceasefire.

In 2025, the sides held three rounds of talks in Istanbul. The first round took place on May 16 at the Dolmabahçe Palace and lasted less than two hours. During the meeting, the delegations agreed on a large-scale “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner-of-war exchange, focusing primarily on humanitarian issues.

The second round was held on June 2 and was also brief. The parties expanded the exchange framework to include additional categories of POWs, giving priority to the seriously wounded, the ill, and those under the age of 25. The agreements also covered the exchange of civilians and the repatriation of the bodies of fallen soldiers.

The third round of talks took place on July 23 at the Çırağan Palace and lasted about 40 minutes. The sides agreed on further swaps, including the exchange of civilians for the first time. However, no progress was made on a ceasefire or broader peace arrangements.

The Russian delegation was headed by Vladimir Medinsky and included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and military officials, while Ukraine’s delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Despite tangible humanitarian outcomes, negotiations stalled on core political issues, with Russia rejecting an unconditional ceasefire and Ukraine insisting on one.

The Istanbul agreements enabled the largest series of prisoner exchanges since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Initial phases in May and June 2025 involved exchanges of several hundred prisoners per stage, including separate swaps of younger and wounded servicemen.

By Khagan Isayev