Russia and Ukraine reached a new humanitarian agreement on Monday during peace talks in Istanbul, agreeing to exchange all wounded prisoners of war and combatants under the age of 25, along with the repatriation of 12,000 bodies of soldiers killed in the conflict.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who headed Kyiv’s delegation, told reporters: “We agreed to exchange all seriously wounded and ill prisoners of war on an all-for-all basis. The second category includes young soldiers aged 18 to 25.”

He added that both sides also consented to return 6,000 bodies each of fallen soldiers, marking a significant humanitarian gesture amid the ongoing hostilities.

The agreement represents a rare breakthrough in negotiations between the two sides and signals a willingness to advance confidence-building measures, even as broader political and military differences remain unresolved. The deal follows a series of renewed talks hosted by Turkey aimed at reviving stalled peace efforts.