Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a swap that will see 215 Ukrainian prisoners of war released in exchange for 55 prisoners held by Kyiv, including a Ukrainian businessman and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among those set to be released are members of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, which fought a weeks-long battle against Russia in the city of Mariupol before finally surrendering in May.
Meanwhile, Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have released two U.S. citizens and eight other foreign nationals as part of a complex prisoner exchange. The deal was brokered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.