KYIV, Nov 16: Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could return 1,200 Ukrainian captives, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday.
His national security chief, Rustem Umerov, reported that consultations mediated by Turkey and the UAE aimed to reactivate Istanbul-brokered protocols from 2022, which set rules for large-scale, coordinated swaps.
Technical talks will soon finalise procedures, with hopes that returning prisoners can celebrate the holidays with their families. Moscow has not commented.
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces continued Russian aerial attacks.
Overnight strikes hit energy infrastructure in Odesa, including a solar power plant, causing rolling blackouts as winter approaches.
Russia launched 176 drones and one missile, with Ukrainian forces intercepting 139.
In retaliation, Ukraine struck a major oil refinery in Samara and a drone warehouse in Russian-occupied Donetsk, aiming to disrupt Russian oil revenue and military operations.
These developments occur amid Ukraine’s efforts to repel a Russian push toward Pokrovsk. (AP)
