Ukraine and Russia begin talks on exchange of prisoners captured in Kursk Region

Ukraine has started negotiations with Russia on the exchange of prisoners captured during Kiev's recent counter-offensive operation in Kursk Region, the Financial Times has reported.

This was reported by the Financial Times.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, said in an interview on Wednesday that his Russian counterpart had approached him with a proposal to start talks on a POW swap.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, which is overseeing the POW swap talks, confirmed to the Financial Times that negotiations were underway.

Although Kiev has not disclosed the exact number of Russian prisoners captured during Operation Kursk, sources on the ground say the number is in the hundreds.

We shall remind you that 10 days ago Ukraine launched a bold counterattack on Russian territory, seizing about 1,000 square kilometres in Kursk Region.

At the same time, the Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday that Russian forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in seven settlements in the Kursk region, located 30-90 km from the border.

However, the Institute for the Study of War said that Ukrainian troops had taken control of 41 settlements in Kursk Region. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 13 August that Ukrainian forces controlled 74 settlements in Kursk Region.

Oleksandr Syrskyy, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said on Thursday that Ukrainian troops continue to advance at a rate of 1-2 kilometres per day, capturing more than 100 prisoners in one day alone.

The capture of Russian prisoners is expected to strengthen Kiev's position on the return of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held captive during Russia's two-and-a-half-year invasion and occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russian officials had earlier hinted that Moscow might halt the prisoner exchange. However, after speaking with his Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova, Lubinets expressed optimism, believing that progress could be made soon.

We had a constructive conversation with the Russian side on this issue," Lubinets said, noting that the two countries are "exchanging information" about their prisoners.

We have identified priority categories for exchange. First of all, the seriously wounded. Secondly, Ukrainian women. And third, all those who remain in captivity," Lubinets said.

He also confirmed to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross that "the rights of Russian POWs are respected and Ukraine remains ready to continue exchanges in accordance with the Geneva Convention."

On Thursday, a spokesman for Ukraine's internal security service, the SBU, said the country's special forces captured 102 Russian servicemen from the 488th motorised rifle regiment and Chechen unit Akhmat in the Kursk region.

This is the largest single capture of enemy forces," the official said.