Building on yesterday's exchange of young soldiers, Russia and Ukraine completed a second prisoner swap focusing specifically on wounded and sick servicemen under the Istanbul agreement framework. State media emphasized returning soldiers personally thanking Putin and the Defense Ministry upon landing in Moscow region.
Overnight, Russian air defenses claimed to intercept 102 Ukrainian drones across eleven regions, while Moscow Times reported Russian strikes hit a maternity hospital in Odessa. The FSB announced preventing a terrorist attack on an energy facility in Krasnodar region, alleging a Ukrainian SBU agent planned to plant explosives at a Novorossiysk site.
By afternoon, the Duma passed legislation creating a national messenger service, while Putin extended the ban on oil sales at Western price caps for six months. Opposition politician Lev Shlosberg was arrested and charged with repeatedly "discrediting" the military.
Evening brought confirmation that upcoming Russia-US negotiations on "irritants" would move from Istanbul to Moscow, marking a diplomatic venue shift.