Russia and Ukraine Exchange Prisoners of War, 1 Russian Prisoner Defected

Amid the ongoing hostilities on the Ukrainian front, the warring sides have continued to exchange their prisoners of war (POWs). The most recent exchange occurred on June 12.

As a result of the negotiations, Moscow and Kiev exchanged nearly 200 servicemen. They included 94 Russian soldiers freed from Ukrainian captivity.

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) stated that Russian prisoners of war captured during the recent fighting in Russia's Belgorod region were turned over to the Russian side.

According to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Kiev received 95 servicemen, including 93 soldiers and two officers.

Ukrainian POWs include servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, members of the National Guard and border guards, as well as prisoners who surrendered at the Azovstal factory in Mariupol in 2022.

The exchange took place on the eve of the Russian national holiday Russia Day, Day of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR, which is celebrated on June 12.

The leader of the RVC AFU stated that one of the Russian POWs, a Wagner member, refused to return to Russia and decided to fight in the ranks of the Ukrainians to launch an attack on the Russians region.

He would rather die for Ukraine, he said in a recorded TikTok video statement.

The head of Russia's Wagner Militia confirmed the report, warning that all traitors would be punished according to PMC traditions.

“Indeed, Vladislav Izmailov is a Wagner member from Samara and was arrested in November.

Vladislav Izmailov is a traitor, and I am sure that he will suffer the punishment he deserves, which all traitors deserve, according to the tradition of Wagner.

I hope we find and kill him in a fair fight,” said Prigozhin commenting on the matter.