Moscow, Kyiv swap 230 prisoners of war on Ukraine’s Independence Day

FRANCE 24

24 August 2024 at 4:28 am·1-min read

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday announced that they had exchanged 115 prisoners of war each, just over two weeks after Kyiv launched a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The prisoner exchange came on Ukraine's Independence Day, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address, said Russia wanted to "destroy" Ukraine, but the war had "returned to its home". Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.

This blog is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage on the war in Ukraine, please click here.

Summary:

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday said they had exchanged 230 prisoners of war, 115 from each country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his country's surprise incursion on August 6 into Russian soil in an Independence Day video speech released on Saturday.
Zelensky on Saturday signed a law banning the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church and its religious organisations.
The US on Friday announced a new round of military aid for Kyiv after President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Yesterday's key developments:

The US announced a new round of military aid for Kyiv after President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)

Read more on FRANCE 24 English

Read also:
Zelensky visits border near Kursk as Russia batters east Ukraine front
Ukraine’s Russia incursion gamble leaves enemy in shock, allies guessing
India's Modi meets Putin on first Russia visit since Ukraine offensive

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Summary:

Yesterday's key developments:

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