Russia and Ukraine Agree to Largest Prisoner Exchange in Over Three Years
Delegations in Istanbul settled on a swap of 1,000 prisoners from each side, marking the first direct peace talks in years, while Ukraine reported drone strikes near Moscow.
The day on the war
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to conduct their largest prisoner-of-war exchange since the conflict began, with 1,000 prisoners to be swapped from each side. The breakthrough came during peace talks held at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on July 19, marking the first direct negotiations between the two nations in over three years.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation, while Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky headed the Russian side. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan moderated the discussions. This agreement represents a significant diplomatic development amidst ongoing hostilities, with both sides expressing satisfaction with the outcome and indicating that talks would continue.
Along the front
Dnipropetrovsk region
Development: Russian forces claimed to have captured the settlement of Vilne (also referred to as Volnoye).
Source: Russian Defense Ministry
Strikes & the grid
Moscow Oblast, Russia
What: Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack, reportedly striking an oil depot and a logistics center.
Toll: Russian Telegram media channels reported the strikes overnight on July 20.
Ukraine (general)
What: Russia has used more ballistic missiles in July than its estimated monthly production, suggesting it is drawing on stockpiles.
Toll: ISW, citing Ukrainian military news, reported 107 ballistic and 20 Zircon missiles launched by Russia in July, compared to an estimated monthly production of 60 Iskander-M and 40 S-400 missiles.
Diplomacy & talks
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks (Istanbul). Delegations from Russia and Ukraine agreed to their largest prisoner exchange since the war began, with 1,000 prisoners from each side to be swapped. The agreement was reached during direct talks in Istanbul on July 19, moderated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold key discussions with commanders of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on July 20 to assess strategies for ending the war.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host a discussion on 'The Future of Global Energy' on July 21.
- A CSIS event on 'NATO Summit and European Strategic Forces Priorities' is scheduled for July 21.
- CSIS will host a discussion titled 'Is the United States Winning the Fusion Race?' on July 22.
- A CSIS event on 'The Air Campaign Returns: From Epic Fury to Midnight Hammer' is planned for July 23.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.