TRANSCRIPT:
Tears of joy as Russia and Ukraine participate in the largest documented swap of prisoners of war since the beginning of the conflict.
Head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, says those released were taken prisoner by Russia from various battlefronts early on in the conflict.
"Finally, after a lot of time, we managed to conduct a very difficult exchange. Today, 230 defenders of Ukraine came back. Among them is a medic, defenders of Snake Island and Chornobyl nuclear power plant who were taken prisoners in the first days of the war; (soldiers from) Azovstal (Mariupol steelworks), border guards, police officers, service members of the National Guard, and soldiers of the Armed Forces."
It's the first such exchange in nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side in a complex agreement, mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
Russia's defence ministry says 248 military personnel have been handed over by Ukraine, while Ukraine says it's brought home 230 people.
On the Russian side, a rather gaunt-looking former prisoner of war had a message for his President, Vladimir Putin.
"Thank you for exchanging us. The mood is great. We're going to eat now, we're already home. And this is the most important thing."
The prisoner exchange has come as Western allies continue to express their support for Ukraine.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has derided President Putin.
"Putin has no interest in ending this war until he has achieved what he says are his military objectives. Which were to put in a puppet state like Belarus. He thought that this was going to be a short campaign, programmed for a week. Enough for him to gain what he believes is part of Great Russia... As the war gets worse it will be more difficult for the (EU) consensus to continue. Above all else if there is a defection by the United States, depending on who is their next president. For sure Putin is waiting for the results of the vote in November of this year before making a military decision on Ukraine."
British Defence Minister Grant Shapps says his country has donated several pieces of equipment as Ukraine continues its counter-offensive.
"Today I can announce the UK is gifting 23 on and off-shore raiding craft and 20 rapidly deployable Viking amphibious vehicles. I can also announce we're supporting Ukraine to procure two mine-counter vessels from the UK."
But Turkish officials say they won't allow the two British minehunter ships to transit its waters en route to the Black Sea.
They argue it would violate an international pact concerning wartime passage of the straits.
Turkiye triggered the 1936 Montreux Convention when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, effectively blocking passage of military ships of the warring parties.
Meanwhile, according to Russia's defence ministry and local authorities, Ukraine has launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Russia's southern region of Belgorod.
There has been no reports of casualties from the latest attacks.
Those strikes follow some of Russia's most intense attacks on Ukraine since the war began almost two years ago.
