The Russian InvasionThe Battles

230 POWs released: "We are doing our best to get everyone back"

A total of 230 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners are said to have been released in a major prisoner exchange on Saturday - 115 from each side. This is what a government official from the United Arab Emirates, who is said to have mediated between the countries, told Reuters.

In such cases, it is the first prisoner exchange since Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region began. In total, it would be the seventh exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates since the war began.

Both Russia and Ukraine confirm the matter.

“We remember each one. We are searching and doing our best to bring everyone back," writes President Zelensky on Telegram.

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"Russia must find out what retaliation is"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in a speech on the country's independence day that the war has "returned" to Russia. He also says that Ukraine was "surprised once again" and promised that Russia will find out "what retaliation is".

Russia tried with the invasion in 2022 to destroy us, he says in the speech that was recorded at the Russian border.

- Instead, we celebrate Ukraine's 33rd independence day. And know that what the enemy took to our land has now returned to his home.

A few weeks ago, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in the Russian region of Kursk and advanced several miles into the country. Subsequently, both the neighboring regions of Belgorod and Voronezh have declared a state of emergency due to the offensive.

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Russia declares state of emergency in yet another border region

Russia declares a state of emergency in parts of the border region of Voronezh, after drone attacks last night, governor Alexander Gusev says on Telegram.

According to the governor, Russia shot down five drones, but falling debris hit explosive material which detonated.

The country has previously declared a state of emergency in the border region of Belgorod, which was attacked in the Ukrainian counter-offensive. 

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Russian invasion Death of Yevgeny Prigozhin
Politico: A year has passed – and the Kremlin is humiliated again

It's been a year since Wagnerian leader and coup plotter Yevgeny Prigozhin plunged to his death - and the Kremlin is once again ridiculed. This is written by Politico and refers to Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region.

Both Wagner's and Ukraine's attacks have punctured the Russian government's ambitions to pretend that ordinary Russians are unaffected by the war. Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov says the Wagner group's coup attempt was an "embarrassing episode in Putin's biography that has seriously damaged his image."

And on the anniversary of Prigozhin's death, war has once again come to Russia.

- There is a general feeling of confusion that can turn into panic at any moment, says Vladimir, who lives in the Kursk region.