A prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia is possible after Ukrainian servicemen have been convicted. In particular, this applies to the defenders of Azovstal.

This was stated by the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Rudenko, reports TASS.

"We will consider all things after the surrendered (Ukrainian military, - ed.) will be appropriately convicted, the sentence will be passed, then there may be some other steps. Until then, all talk of an exchange is premature," he said.

We recall that earlier the Russian State Duma proposed to ban the exchange of Azov servicemen who left the Azovstal plant in Mariupol and surrendered to Russian captivity. The Ukrainian side notes that the surrender followed by an exchange was the only way to save the lives of the fighters.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry called the statement on the prohibition of such an exchange internal propaganda for the Russian audience.