Ukraine and Russia freed 185 soldiers each on Thursday in a reciprocal prisoner swap, alongside 20 civilians returned to Ukrainian soil, marking the latest in a summer series of releases that have repatriated thousands since Istanbul talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the deal on Telegram, spotlighting the returned fighters' ordeals: many held since 2022 from hotspots like Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks and Chernobyl's nuclear plant. "Everyone will get the support they need," he vowed, hailing the men's resilience after years in "enemy" hands.

Russia's Defence Ministry released footage of the handoff, confirming the 185 servicemen swap per July 23 Istanbul accords, plus the civilians' release.

The ministry framed it as a humanitarian step amid the grinding war, now in its third year, where such exchanges offer rare glimmers of dialogue.

Since the full-scale invasion, Ukraine reports over 7,000 citizens and troops homeward bound through these deals, but 2,500 servicemen remain Russian-held—prompting Kyiv's outcry over international law breaches, including documented mistreatment and ill-treatment.

Human rights monitors echo calls for better conditions, as swaps underscore the human toll without easing frontline fury.