Ukrainian soldiers patrol in the village of Katerynivka, Lugansk region, eastern Ukraine. Photo: AFP/VNA

On Telegram, the Russian Defense Ministry said 94 Russian prisoners held by Ukraine had been released after negotiations and that they would be taken to a healthcare facility for medical examination.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said 95 Ukrainian prisoners had returned home, including a number of wounded. They are members of the national guard and border guards.

Yermak said those returned to Ukraine used to operate near the city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian forces for weeks last year.

Last February, Russia and Ukraine conducted an exchange of nearly 200 prisoners.

In May, Moscow released 45 Ukrainian prisoners, mostly members of the Azov Battalion, while Kyiv released three Russian pilots.