Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, each returning 270 military personnel and 120 civilians to the other side, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The prisoner swap, involving 390 people from each side, follows the peace talks held last week in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. This deal stands out as one of the few concrete results from otherwise stalled negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the start of the exchange, saying the process began with 390 people on the first day and will continue over the weekend.
The exchange is taking place at the Ukraine-Belarus border and is expected to last three days, according to Ukrainian sources and government projects helping soldiers surrender..
US President Donald Trump welcomed the development on his Truth Social platform, calling the swap "complete" and hinting it “could lead to something big???” — raising hopes for further diplomatic breakthroughs.
Despite the broader peace process remaining frozen, this carefully coordinated exchange is seen as a rare moment of cooperation amid ongoing tensions. Both sides have exchanged prisoner lists, with Ukraine aiming to bring home all its citizens held captive in Russia. However, reports suggest that Russia is returning nearly all its captured soldiers, while Ukraine is expected to recover less than 10% of its prisoners.
The prisoner exchange was first agreed upon during talks in Istanbul on May 16, with further negotiations possibly scheduled in the Vatican in June, according to reports.
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Two Indian-flagged tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are en route to India despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (14 March).
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
A sandstorm swept across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, worsening conditions for displaced civilians already living in fragile shelters amid the ongoing conflict, according to local reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Ayman Ghazali, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday (12 March) while children attended preschool. Security personnel shot him dead during the confrontation, and authorities said no one else was seriously injured.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
An explosion lightly damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday (14 March) in what the city’s mayor described as “a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.”
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13rd of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
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