Russia and Ukraine exchange 230 prisoners of war on Ukraine's Independence Day

Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6, while also signing a law banning the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church. The US has announced a new round of military aid for Ukraine following a call between President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 230 prisoners of war, marking the first such exchange since Ukraine's surprise attack into Russia's Kursk region on August 6. This prisoner swap is notable, as both sides have previously carried out periodic prisoner swaps through intermediaries.