"On 24 August this year, 146 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime," the statement reads. In exchange, 146 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.
"Additionally, eight Russian citizens from the Kursk region, who were illegally held by the Kiev regime, have been returned and will be brought home," the Russian Ministry of Defence added.
The Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving necessary psychological and medical assistance. All of them will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at medical facilities of the Russian Ministry of Defence.