13% of the prisoners of war returned to Russia from Ukraine in today's exchange were from Chechnya

One of the results of the negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi was an agreement on the first prisoner of war exchange in four months, based on a 157-for-157 formula. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this yesterday, and US Special Presidential Envoy Steven Witkoff confirmed the information today.

"This result is the result of peace negotiations that were thorough and productive. While much work remains, such steps demonstrate that ongoing diplomatic engagement is bearing tangible fruit and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Further progress is expected in the coming weeks," Witkoff wrote on social media.

According to Irina Krynina, a representative of the public movement "Our Way Out," 157 people from each side will return to their homeland as part of today's exchange. In an interview with the Dozhd TV channel, she said that three-quarters of the total number of Russian military personnel exchanged were those who signed contracts while in prison or under investigation.

"This is a very high-risk category of prisoners of war. I explained to them all the risks, that they would be sent back to war, and gave them recommendations. I hope they heard me and will take advantage of this opportunity, and will do everything possible to stay home," Krynina shared.

According to her, 13% of the prisoners of war returned to Russia today are from the Chechen Republic. The organization's representative emphasized that this is a record figure in the history of prisoner exchanges between the two sides.

Последние новости
В Осло имя Анны Политковской выложили из цветов
Human rights
В Осло имя Анны Политковской выложили из цветов
7 October 2026

Сегодня в разных странах мира проходят акции памяти Анны Политковской, посвящённые 20-летию со дня убийства журналистки, много лет освещавшей войну в Чечне и нарушения прав человека.

European Parliament Demands Withdrawal of Lawsuit to Ban Opposition Parties in Georgia
Politics
European Parliament Demands Withdrawal of Lawsuit to Ban Opposition Parties in Georgia
7 October 2026

In a draft resolution, the European Parliament has called on Georgian authorities to immediately withdraw the constitutional lawsuit seeking to ban opposition parties. The document is set for a vote on October 8, following a debate on the country's political situation taking place in Strasbourg on October 7.

On Putin’s birthday, Kadyrov speaks of the
Politics
On Putin’s birthday, Kadyrov speaks of the "special significance" of his name for Chechnya
7 October 2026

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday and stated that the Russian president's name holds "special significance" for the Chechen people. According to Kadyrov, the region will "never forget" the support Putin extended to his father—Chechnya’s first president, Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov—"at a time when the future of the Chechen Republic depended on the decisions being made."

Russia urged to prosecute those who ordered Anna Politkovskaya’s murder
Human rights
Russia urged to prosecute those who ordered Anna Politkovskaya’s murder
7 October 2026

On the 20th anniversary of the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, representatives of 32 countries called on the Russian authorities to identify everyone involved in the crime and end pressure on independent media.

The statement was issued by the Media Freedom Coalition. It was signed by representatives of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Ukraine, Australia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Chile, Japan, Spain and other countries.